Thank you.
I have a couple of specific things, but I want to make a comment, because I do agree with what Mr. Halucha is saying. Without the data, we can't reflect back to see how successful we're being in terms of our trade. This is something that I've brought forward and that I think we really need to implement as part of our trade agenda and trade policy going forward: that we actually have a report following trade so that we can have official studies that are capturing all the things you're mentioning.
Under that transparency, I think we really could understand the successes and the challenges and then look at policy ways to address those challenges. I had a chat with Ms. Moran. I said that the opportunity for trade exists almost solely within SMEs because the large players are doing quite well. They know how to do this. They know where the programs are. They have the resources to be able to go and acquire them and look at trends that are happening globally. SMEs have none of this.
I remember an early stat that we heard from the CFIB. They came here and told us about the amount of people who try to trade with a country in year one. By year two, that has dropped by 50%, and then there's an even higher percentage drop-off after year two because it's too difficult. They just are not able to do it. That's something we've heard pretty consistently at this committee over the last three years.
I really feel that at this point we have to flip trade on its head when it comes to SMEs, start from the ground up and create something that works based on what people need. As my colleagues have alluded to, and as we've heard here consistently, the programs that exist and the kind of model we have aren't working. I'd like to hear about your efforts to address all of these concerns.
I have two specific examples of things that I think could be helpful. One of them comes from the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, the Canadian Horticultural Council and my colleague, the previous agriculture critic. It's a non-partisan issue, I believe, but we've yet to see it, and that's the U.S. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, which would really help SMEs in terms of the produce that they're shipping across the border. We need this program back in reciprocity so that we can secure their future and make sure that when they lose products when they're exporting there is some security measure for them, so that they don't end up losing their farms, essentially. I'll ask you about that.
On the other one, I come from a region in Essex that has over 22 wineries. I know that my other colleague from Niagara has a lot of wineries and certainly B.C. does as well. The vintners are quite an active group here. The excise exemption is critical for our vintners. This goes beyond the bricks and mortar or the fields of our vintners. This goes to our whole tourism sector and the whole ecosystem that exists around it. This is a simple measure that would really help them to reinvest in their businesses.
I'll leave that open for comment. I look forward to hearing from you.