Farmscape for March 7, 2013

Canada's Agriculture Minister says an Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan will allow for optimum growth of the Canada-Japan trading relationship resulting in significant benefits for Canadian producers.
As part of a trade mission representatives of Canadian government and business travelled to Japan to promote Canadian agricultural products and discuss agricultural trade issues.
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says, in light of Canada's long-standing agricultural partnership with Japan, Canada is committed to further deepening this relationship through an Economic Partnership Agreement which will provide additional export opportunities for Canadian businesses.

Clip-Gerry Ritz-Canada Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food:
In my meetings here in Tokyo I met with Minister Hayashi, the new Japanese Agricultural Minister.
In speaking with the minister and other Japanese leaders I took the opportunity to underscore our long standing relationship in agriculture and explore ways to maximize trade opportunities with Japan that will bring mutual benefit to both our great countries.
Through the open dialogues that we have had over the past days we have developed a more clear understanding of what opportunities and sensitivities are associated with our ongoing negotiations.
That said, I'm confident that there are no obstacles that can not be overcome as our negotiations continue.
I have made clear Canada's commitment to taking our trade relationship with Japan to the next level through an economic partnership agreement for which negotiations are ongoing.
Our two nations recently completed the first full round of negotiations on this landmark agreement with progress being made across a broad range of topics.
A deeper trade relationship with Japan, the world's third largest economy, is part of the Harper government's overall plan to open new markets, to increase Canadian exports, create good jobs and continue to bolster the Canadian economy.

Ritz notes in 2012, Canada's agricultural exports to Japan totaled 4.2 billion dollars.
He says an Economic Partnership Agreement would allow for optimum growth of the Canada-Japan trading relationship and suggests the strengthening of this relationship will bring significant benefits for Canadian producers.
For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

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