Sask. premier confirms trip to China to assist in canola tariff negotiations

WATCH: Moe says he will be travelling to China in the coming weeks to assist federal officials in negotiating an end to Chinese tariffs on canola.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he will be travelling to China in the coming weeks to assist federal officials in negotiating an end to Chinese tariffs on canola and other Canadian crops.

“I myself will be in China in the next couple of weeks, with potentially another opportunity for engagement before the end of the calendar year,” Moe told reporters during a press conference Thursday afternoon in Saskatoon.

Moe and provincial ministers met with federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, industry groups, and Kody Blois, the parliamentary secretary for Prime Minister Mark Carney, to discuss the tariff situation.

Blois noted that the federal government is aware of the threat the Chinese tariffs pose for producers in Saskatchewan and right across Canada, adding that while negotiations with the Chinese will continue, Canada must also look to other markets.

• Read more: Sask. premier vows to travel to China in attempt to end canola tariffs

“What I would say is

the message is very clear, and the government is very cognizant of the fact that the importance of the Chinese market for Canadian canola exports,” Blois explained.

“The premier’s going to make his trip to China. But part of this conversation also revolves to the premier’s comments of what other markets are available.”

Moe reiterated the fact that on an issue as important as canola exports – it’s essential for provincial and federal leaders to work together.

“It’s of vital importance that we are addressing this in a collaborative fashion,” he said.

“It isn’t going to be Premier Moe and President Xi that stand up and say, ‘We’ve come to a trade deal here and everything is good moving forward,’ It is going to be the Prime Minister of Canada, Prime Minister Carney and President Xi that ultimately are going to speak on behalf of their countries.”

Carney is scheduled to visit the prairie provinces in the next several weeks to meet with stakeholders in the agriculture sector and provincial leaders on what can be done domestically to support producers.

“To those who are involved in the canola industry from a producer level, we know the anxiety of the uncertainty of the market access right now and what this means,” Blois added.

“We have tools at our disposal. We know your value, and we’re going to work hand in hand with the Government of Saskatchewan to see what we can do to mitigate the situation in the days ahead.”

The date for Moe’s trip will be confirmed in the next several days.

China imposed the tariff of nearly 76 per cent last week, causing the price of one of Canada’s most valuable crops to fall and wiping out millions of dollars in its value.

It comes one year after China launched an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian canola, a move in response to Canada’s 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles.

Farmers and Ottawa have rejected the dumping claim, saying exporters have followed rules-based trade.