Cereals Canada - Market Access

Cereals Canada will respond to market access issues and crises as they occur in addition to ongoing work to eliminate market/trade barriers generally. This work will be focused in both our domestic (Canada / US) and international markets.

Governments are successfully negotiating down many of the traditional tariff barriers that have limited trade in the past. This is a positive development for the Canadian cereals sector whichis export dependent. However, these tariff barriers can be replaced by sanitary and phyto- sanitary barriers that claim to be built on food safety or environmental concerns.

The ability of protectionist governments to turn to these

non-tariff barriers to trade is enabled by advances in testing methodologies. New methodologies allow for testing in parts per trillion, which is often well below levels of legitimate food safety concerns.

Cereals Canada will work to counter the growth of non-tariff barriers by supporting international standards that are based on sound science and ensuring that international trade is based on these standards. Both industry and governments must work together to build and strengthen science-based trade. The development of a “Canadian message” and “Canadian approaches” that encompass both industry and government are critically important to the management of emerging non-tariff barriers.

Education and awareness of the potential market harm arising as a result of non-tariff barriers is also important. This has begun with the development of the Keep it Clean – Cereals campaign. This campaign will continue and will be expanded to include additional commodity value chains. Communication and awareness efforts will also be developed to address specific emerging issues.

There are six strategic initiatives necessary for proactive management of market access.

Strategic Initiatives: Proactive Management of Market Access

Address short-term trade disruptions (crisis management) as they occur

Work with Market Access Secretariat, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Canadian Grain Commission, others to identify and work to eliminate trade barriers

Focus particular attention to important emerging technical areas as:

asynchronous approvals
glyphosate residue
missing Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs)
mycotoxins (both export and domestic market issue)

Work will include the identification and engagement of technical experts (e.g., within the cereals value chain,other commodity value chain, industry associations, academics, etc.)

Participate in cross commodity efforts to manage and reduce trade barriers to trade (e.g. Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, Canada Grains Council, etc.)

Educate awareness of market/trade barriers at government agencies and offices abroad

Promote awareness:

of market/trade barriers to the Cereals Canada members
of world-class domestic production and handling guidelines, i.e. Keep It Clean – Cereals

Cereals Canada will work towards enabling full and fair access to markets throughout the world for Canadian cereals and cereal products.

Cereals Canada is a national, not-for-profit organization that brings a broad and diverse collaboration of partners from all sectors of the cereals value chain.

Proactive Management of Market Access

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Cereals Canada is a national, not-for-profit organization that brings a broad and diverse collaboration of partners from all sectors of the cereals value chain.