Saskatchewan agriculture welcomes the return of China trade

Half of Saskatchewan cattle exports now head abroad, key markets include Japan, Mexico, and South Korea. Damian Smith reports.

After a five-year pause, Canada will resume exports of canola and beef to China, a move welcomed by Saskatchewan’s agriculture industry.

“Having China back is great. They shut the doors to us in 2021, so it’s been quite some time,” said Chad Ross, chair of the Saskatchewan Cattle Association. “That equated to about $200 million worth of beef when we were last exporting to them.”

Ross said before the trade restrictions, about 70 per cent of Canadian beef exports were shipped to the United States. Other key markets include Mexico, Japan and South Korea. Japan is currently Canada’s second-largest beef importer, though Ross said China could soon overtake that position.

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Ross, a fourth-generation rancher from Estevan, said the renewed access is good news for Saskatchewan, which has the second-largest calf population in the country.

“We are very strong in the cow-calf industry in growing calves, and the feedlot industry is growing,” he said.

Industry leaders echoed that sentiment during Canada’s Productivity Initiative event in Saskatoon, which focuses on agriculture, energy and minerals.

“Saskatchewan is really a major player and kind of the backbone of the cow-calf herd in Canada,” said Tyler McCann, managing director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute.

On Tuesday, federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald said the federal government is also discussing details of the next agricultural policy framework, a five-year agreement expected to support Canadian agriculture from 2028 to 2033.

“The next agreement needs to recognize that the world has changed,” McCann said. “The conditions when the last framework was established are very different than today. Open markets, reliable trade and innovation can no longer be taken for granted. I hope we see more of an innovation agenda that’s good for Saskatchewan.”

Ross also pointed to the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP), which expires March 31, 2028.

“As we look at what SCAP has done for agriculture, the Saskatchewan Cattle Association has been very involved in talking with government about which programs matter to producers — especially those supporting risk management and technology,” he said.

MacDonald said a Chinese importer has already ordered 60,000 tonnes of canola seed, and the first shipment of Canadian beef could leave the country as early as next week.