Thank you, Chair and colleagues. Thanks for the invitation to appear in front of the committee.
For a long time, I've believed that parliamentary committees are really the heart of our democracy. That's where we are held accountable. That's where we have spirited debates about public policy, sometimes contrasting in their points of view and perspective. It's open to the public and it's the kind of exchange that makes our democracy as vibrant as it is.
I am pleased to be here to talk about a very important issue, particularly for me as a Manitoban, because I know how important our agricultural and agri-food industries are. I know how vital the export markets are for the well-being of western Canadians. I know that they are the wealth creators of the prairie economy—indeed of the national economy.
I also know, as all members of the committee will know too, that China is a key market for our canola exporters. One figure always sticks in my mind. If I were to ask you in what year the Richardson family did its first deal with China, what might you say? It would probably not be 1910. For over a century, we on the prairie have been selling wheat to China. For over 100 years, prairie farmers have been growing and selling the highest-quality products in the world to customers in China.
As a former CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba, I know how critical our agricultural experts are to the overall economy, not only of the prairies but to the entire country. If our farmers suffer, we all suffer. If our farmers succeed, we all share in that success.
As Minister of International Trade Diversification, we must maintain our trading relationship with China. China is Canada's second-largest trading partner and an important market for Canadian exporters. ln 2018, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and China reached $102.2 billion. Canadian total exports of agriculture, agri-food, fish and seafood to China were valued at $10.5 billion in 2018, up from $8 billion in 2017 and even more from the year before that. Total Canadian exports of canola seed, oil and meal to China in 2018 were valued at $4.3 billion, up from $3.6 billion in 2017 and $2.7 billion in 2016.
However, despite the depth and strength of our bilateral ties, as with any diplomatic relationship, ours is not without its challenges. This is as true today as it has been in the past, and as it was in 2009, the last time that China gave us a bit of grief over Canadian canola.
We were extremely disappointed in the decision by China to halt import of Canadian canola. Last week, the Prime Minister and I met with Richardson executives in Winnipeg. Minister Bibeau and I also met with both Viterra and the Canola Council of Canada last Friday in Saskatoon. Importantly, over those number of days, we have also met with our counterparts, the ministers of agriculture and ministers of trade from both Manitoba and Saskatchewan. We also met with the Premier of Saskatchewan, to show that we are working in lockstep with the industry, with producers and with our provincial counterparts.
I want to thank our provincial partners for their collaborative effort and their support on this very important file. We're all committed to resolving this issue for our growers.
Colleagues, this is not a partisan issue. I'll say to you what we told the producers and our counterparts. Our government is seized with this issue. We recognize the potential impact of China's decision, and we are working hard to restore our exports to China and mitigate the impact of their decision on our canola sector, and by extension, our economy as a whole.
Yesterday, we announced the formation of a working group, which includes the Canola Council of Canada, the Canola Growers Association, the Richardson company, Viterra, and representatives not only from the federal government but also from the governments of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
The CFIA and our officials are working diligently with the Chinese to refute the reasons for halting Canadian imports.
While those efforts continue, we are seeking other markets for Canadian canola. I have been working the phones to grow our canola exports in other markets. I've connected with, and will continue speaking to my counterparts in other countries worldwide to expand our canola exports.
Our government is committed, as you know, to diversifying trade and opening new markets for Canadian exporters. The newly implemented CPTPP and CETA agreements are creating significant export opportunities for Canadians, with the CPTPP alone expected to result in $780 million in new canola exports.
Canada now has 14 trade agreements covering 1.5 billion consumers in our free trade zone, and access to nearly $50 trillion in combined GDP.
Colleagues, we are the only G7 nation to have a free trade relationship with all of the other six, which positions Canada to be an international leader and investment hub.
Our government works diligently to help more Canadians export more goods to more places, creating more jobs and more wealth from coast to coast to coast.
Thank you very much.