Submissions & Appearances | 2025
Global Affairs Canada | Second Phase Public Consultations on the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)
October 30, 2025: Trade agreements have been vital in fostering close integration between the Canadian and US
agricultural sectors and a strong, collaborative relationship with our American and Mexican
partners. The Canada-US Free Trade Agreement of 1989, followed by NAFTA in 1994, then
CUSMA in 2020, have dismantled most tariff and quota barriers to Canada-US-Mexico
agricultural trade.
House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade |
Opening remarks for the Study of Canada’s Engagement in a Rules-Based International Trade and Investment System
September 22, 2025: However, profound geopolitical shifts are rapidly reshaping the international trading landscape, creating uncertainty, and amplifying risks for Canadian agri-food exporters. Canada’s management of these shifts should avoid protectionist measures that weaken our credibility as supporters of the global rules-based trading order.
Re: Consultations on a possible free trade agreement with the Philippines
March 7, 2025: CAFTA therefore supports the opening of these discussions and looks forward to continued consultation as they advance. It is CAFTA’s opinion that Canada should prioritize comprehensive elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers for agriculture and food products.
Submissions & Appearances | 2024
International Trade Policy Division (Critical Manufacturing Consultation) Department of Finance
October 8, 2024
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In all these consultations, CAFTA has wished to underline largely the same point, which is that undermining the global rules-based trading system risks having a negative effect on Canada’s economic security. The prosperity of Canadians depends upon our ability to export, and we do so mainly under the WTO rules that are at the heart of the global trading system.
Opening remarks for Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on C282
September 26, 2024
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A fair and open international trade environment for agri-food is in Canada’s economic interest. Agri-food is responsible for 1 in 9 jobs in Canada, and the majority are in export based agri-food. In 2022, Canada exported $92.8 billion in agriculture and food products More than half of our agricultural production is exported or processed to be exported.
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C-282 is a threat to this economic benefit and Canadian jobs. It is terrible trade policy for a country that depends on exports, it will hurt Canada’s ability to make decisions in the national interest, and it will set a protectionist precedent that undermines Canada’s credibility to exercise leadership and work at international forums like the WTO.
Public Consultations on Potential New Measures to Advance and Defend Canada’s Economic Security Interests
September 20, 2024
At a time of global economic uncertainty, Canada’s economic security is enhanced by reinforcing and strengthening the sectors and industries where we already excel. The agri-food exporting sector is a key example for Canada. A fair and open international trade environment for agri-food is in Canada’s economic interest. Agri-food is responsible for 1 in 9 jobs in Canada, and the majority are in export-based agri-food.
Re: Consultations on potential policy responses to unfair Chinese trade practices in electric vehicles
July 31, 2024
The global rules-based trading system is essential to the success of the agri-food exporting sector that CAFTA represents. The government should seek to strengthen this system and avoid taking trade action that may undermine WTO rules, even if inadvertently. Faced with similar challenges in relation to Chinese EV subsidization, the EU is currently taking an approach that pays close attention to rules-based trade, and the WTO’s central role. The government should study the EU approach carefully and factor rules-based trade into its policy response.
Re: Public Consultations on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
July 17, 2024
The CPTPP has made an important contribution to the international trading environment for Canada`s agri-food exporters. The “gold standard” model of the CPTPP contains enhanced market access provisions, a clear emphasis on science-based decision-making in sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and a broad dispute settlement mechanism.
Opening remarks for the Study of the 2026 CUSMA Review
June 6th, 2024
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The United States is Canada's largest agricultural trading partner by far, buying 59.2 percent of Canadian exports and supplying 57.0 percent of Canadian imports. Canada is the leading agricultural trade partner of the United States when exports and imports are combined.
Canada ranks among Mexico’s agri-food suppliers, with Mexican agri-food imports from Canada reached $2.9 billion in 2022. Mexico’s large population, growing middle class, geographic proximity and political stability make it an important market for CAFTA exporters.
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The deep integration between the Canadian and US agricultural sectors is largely a question of proximity, but trade agreements and a deep, positive relationship with our American friends and allies are also vital. The Canada-US Free Trade Agreement of 1989, followed by NAFTA in 1994, then CUSMA in 2020, have dismantled most tariff and quota barriers to Canada-U.S. agricultural trade.
CAFTA Opening remarks for the Study of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy
May 27th, 2024
CAFTA members have established the following priorities for our work:
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open new markets for Canadian agri-food. This includes prioritizing trade liberalization discussions with growing emerging markets in the Indo-Pacific like Indonesia and ASEAN countries.
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To uphold the international rules-based trading system. A delegation of CAFTA members attended the WTO’s recent Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi. We witnessed firsthand the challenges the system is facing, and we support Canada’s efforts through the Ottawa group to advance key priorities at the WTO.
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To strengthen trade diplomacy capacity and Industry-Government collaboration. We welcomed the opening of the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office in Manilla, and CAFTA is co-chairing the Industry Working Group that is ensuring alignment between government and stakeholders.
CAFTA Opening Remarks for the Study of Canadian Businesses in Supply Chains and Global Markets.
May 2nd, 2024
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The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) is a coalition of national organizations advocating for a freer and fairer international trade environment for the agriculture and agri-food sector.
CAFTA's members include farmers, ranchers, processors, producers and exporters from major trade sectors such as beef, pork, grains, oilseeds, sugar, pulses, and soy.
As I said, CAFTA works for a fair and open international trade environment. This is in our country’s economic interest, and in our national security interest of making an important contribution to international peace and stability.
March 18th, 2024
The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) is a coalition of national organizations that support a more open and fair international trading environment for agriculture and agri-food. CAFTA represents the 90% of farmers who depend on trade and ranchers, producers, processors, and agri-food exporters who want to grow the economy through better access to international markets. This includes the beef, pork, meat, grains, cereals, pulses, soybeans, canola as well as the sugar and processed food industries. The sectors CAFTA represents support over a million jobs in urban and rural communities across Canada.
Submissions & Appearances | 2023
November 21st, 2023: On November 6, CAFTA’s Executive Director, Michael Harvey gave opening remarks to the House Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE) on the Study of the Situation at the Russia-Ukraine Border and Implications for Peace and Security.
Letter to Senators: Request that you reject Bill C-282
October 31st, 2023: C-282 is profoundly contrary to the national interest of a trading country like Canada. As was stated in an open letter issued on October 23 by a group of the finest trade negotiators to have represented Canada over the past decades, “The Bill would seriously handicap Canadian Governments – irrespective of their political affiliation -- and their trade negotiators to accommodate the give-and-take of future trade negotiations to open up new markets and secure valued access for Canadian products, services and investments.”
June 21st, 2023: CAFTA members are profoundly disappointed the House of Commons have voted to pass Bill C-282 on third reading. In doing so, Members of Parliament have chosen to entrench protectionism and favour one economic sector above all others
June 20th, 2023
Canadian agri-food exporters, representing the 90% of Canadian farmers, producers, food manufacturers and agri-food businesses who depend on trade write to respectfully urge you to oppose Bill C-282 An Act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act (supply management) on June 21, 2023, for third reading.
Submissions & Appearances | 2022
November 29th, 2022: I'm pleased to be here to share preliminary views on behalf of Canada's agri-food exporters on how the American Inflation Reduction Act—or IRA—may impact our sector and what we believe Canada's response should be.
November 21, 2022: On behalf of the Canadian Agri-food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), we are pleased to submit the following information to the AGRI Committee as it continues to look at issues related to global food insecurity. We believe that access to food should know no boundaries and that trade policy rooted in free and open trade is one of the best ways to ensure food remains plentiful around the world.
October 26, 2022: Thank you for the invitation to present to you today. My name is Claire Citeau, and I am the Executive Director of the Canadian Agri-food Trade Alliance or CAFTA, the voice of Canadian agri-food exporters. ​Access to food should know no boundaries. ​Given that our mandate is focused on trade liberalization, I will speak to the matter of global food security and Canada’s role from a trade policy perspective.
May 9th, 2022: Thank you for the opportunity to speak about ways for Canada to maximize opportunities throughout the Indo-Pacific.
CAFTA is the voice of Canadian agri-food exporters, representing the 90% of farmers in Canada who depend on trade and those growing the economy through better access to markets: beef, pork, wheat, grains, oilseeds, canola, sugar, malt, pulses and process foods.
Submissions & Appearances | 2021
March 17th, 2021
Despite clear evidence that trade has contributed to unprecedented prosperity and development, respect for the rules and the institutions that govern it has severely eroded, paving the way for further disruption and trade-distorting policies.
The 25 year old World Trade Organization (WTO) is facing its deepest crisis with unprecedented challenges that cut across the three major functions of the organization, notably the dispute settlement mechanism, the monitoring and transparency function as well as the negotiations and rule-making function.