Peru & Canada: Canada – Peru free trade agreement is good news for Prairie barley growers

The successful conclusion of free-trade negotiations between Canada and Peru is welcome news for Prairie farmers who export over $100 million worth of wheat and barley to Peru each year, says CWB President and CEO Greg Arason, according to CWB’s press release, January 28.

"Hats off to International Trade Minister David Emerson for concluding this important deal last weekend," Arason said. "Without it, our exports into this important market could have fallen under a competitive disadvantage to grain from the U.S., which recently ratified its own trade deal with Peru."

The CWB exported about 416 000 tonnes of wheat and 13 000 tonnes of barley to Peru last year, representing more than 80 per cent of Canada's agricultural exports to this country. When the deal is finalized, this grain will have duty-free access to Peru's market and a growing economy with increasing demand for high-quality wheat products and beer.

Since 2003, the CWB has been urging Ottawa to forge bilateral deals to prevent Canadian exports from losing ground to international competitors. Canada is also in trade talks with Colombia, which purchased 490 000 tonnes of Prairie wheat and barley in 2006-07.

Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. One of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based company sells grain to over 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to Prairie farmers.

30 January, 2008