OTTAWA, June 2, 2025 – The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) is urging Members of Parliament and Senators to reject Bill C-202, a Bloc Québécois Private Member’s Bill that would handcuff Canada’s trade negotiators and undermine Canada’s trade policy.

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“As with previous iterations of this bill, C-202 would undermine Canada’s agri-food sector, damage our trade relationships, and harm the thousands of farmers, ranchers, processors, and agri-food exporters who rely on open access to global markets to make a living,” said Greg Northey, President of CAFTA.

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Canada is already facing rising trade uncertainty. Disputes with key partners  remain unresolved, implementation of existing agreements has been slow, and global protectionism continues to grow—placing pressure on Canada’s ability to maintain reliable access to export markets.

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“Bill C-202 risks limiting Canada’s trade objectives at a time when we must be even more ambitious in existing and new markets. This bill sets a dangerous precedent that will harm Canada’s trade posture and limit our ability to negotiate in good faith with trading partners, said Michael Harvey, Executive Director of CAFTA. “Our trade negotiators must be empowered to get the best trade deals for Canada, particularly as the federal government negotiates a new economic and security relationship with the U.S. Bill C-202, or similar bills for other sectors of the economy, will put Canada in a more tenuous position with  our international trading partners.”

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With approximately a third of the House of Commons being new Members of Parliament, CAFTA urges Members not to provide unanimous consent to bypass the House’s parliamentary processes and send Bill C-202 directly to the Senate. This bill, and its implications for Canada’s trade policy at a time of geopolitical and trade uncertainty, should be studied thoroughly by the House and Senate with a wide array of stakeholders both inside and outside of agriculture.

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Bill C-202 is not an agriculture bill; it is a bill that will have implications for all sectors of the economy that export and in turn support the quality of life of Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

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“Providing sectoral carveouts for Canada’s trade negotiations will  put our trade objectives at risk, including greater ambition on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, robust dispute settlement mechanisms, world-class biotech provisions, and other priorities, added Northey.

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CAFTA urges all parliamentarians to stand up for Canadian farmers, ranchers, and the agri-food sector, and reject Bill C-202.

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