gerry ritz

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz


A completed free trade agreement with Japan has the potential to increase Canadian exports to the country by as much as two-thirds.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz made that comment yesterday while speaking with reporters regarding his agricultural trade mission to the country. Over the weekend it was announced negotiations have been launched to form an economic partnership agreement with Japan.

Ritz said an agreement with Japan could provide tremendous opportunities for our ag sector, “Japan is already our agriculture industries second largest market. Importing most of their food needs, Japan represents a market approaching four billion dollars for our farmers and food processors in Canada. Japan is the most consistently large market for Canadian canola seed, second largest market for Canadian malt and pork, third largest market for Canadian Wheat, and fourth largest market for Canadian beef.”

Ritz was asked what sort of timeline the Government was working with regarding the conclusion of the deal, “We'll were in early stages. We've done the scoping work and we've recognized the synergies between our two great nations. I know the Japanese and Canadian sides are both anxious to move forward. In all the discussions I've had with Japanese buyers in both the grain and beef and pork sectors they've all expressed a great desire to move this forward as quickly as possible.”