Sure.
CAFTA's priorities are as follows: Number one is to open new markets for Canadian agri-food, number two is to uphold the international rules-based trading system and number three is to strengthen trade diplomacy capacity and industry/government collaboration.
The United States is Canada's largest agricultural trading partner by far, buying 59.2% of Canadian exports and supplying 57% 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 leading agri-food suppliers. 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.
The deep integration between the Canadian and U.S. 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-U.S. Free Trade Agreement of 1989, followed by NAFTA in 1994 and then CUSMA in 2020, have dismantled most tariff and quota barriers to Canada-U.S. agricultural trade.
I want to underline that for Canada-U.S. agri-food trade, CUSMA benefits trade investment for both countries through highly integrated supply chains. This includes intra-industry trade for important sectors, with each country exporting products to the other within these sectors. Pork and beef are important examples, as well as grains and feeds. Bilateral trade also covers many semi-processed and finished processed products such as sugar-containing ingredients and food products.
Our supply chains are so deeply integrated that in essence our countries are producing together, making technological advances together and using an integrated transportation system. These are important elements to emphasize when interacting with U.S. counterparts. Napoleon famously said that geography is destiny. This is clearly true for Canada's international trading relationships. Nothing is more important than our relationship with the United States. CAFTA is a strong supporter of diversification of our trading relationships, but the U.S. will always be the most important. In an increasingly uncertain international environment, neighbours and partners like the U.S. and Mexico must be carefully nurtured.
Our security relationship, border management and the management of key trade infrastructure cannot be separated from the trading relationship. As a country, we must manage North American relations holistically. CAFTA members can play a useful role in the team Canada approach by working with our U.S. counterparts to underline the importance of CUSMA to them. U.S. farmers and producers are politically relevant, including in key swing states.
Finally, I wish to emphasize the need to avoid unnecessarily provoking U.S. trade negotiators. CAFTA firmly believes that Bill C-282, which would prevent Canadian negotiators from discussing tariff quotas in supply-managed industries, is sending a warning signal to U.S. interest groups in key states. We call on the Senate to reject Bill C‑282, which has not been thoroughly studied in the House of Commons.
I look forward to answering your questions.
Thank you.