Thank you for the opportunity for the Canadian Canola Growers Association to appear on your study on trade opportunities for Canadian businesses in the Indo-Pacific. I'm joined virtually today by my colleague, Janelle Whitley, senior manager, trade and marketing policy.
CCG represents Canada's 43,000 canola farmers on issues that impact their farm's success. As the world's largest producer and exporter of canola, Canada exports nearly 90% of what we grow as oil, seed or meal. It was valued at $13.7 billion in 2021. International trade underpins the canola sector's $29.9-billion annual economic contribution and the 207,000 jobs it creates in Canada.
Expanding Canada's trade and economic relationship in Southeast Asia should be a cornerstone of Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy. The region presents exciting opportunities for market diversification, and the government's new strategy provides a platform to build stronger trade relationships in this fast growing dynamic region and strengthen canola's competitive position.
On average, Canada exports close to $45 million of canola to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. While not currently a large market, market opportunities for Canadian canola oil and meal are expected to increase. This is particularly true in Thailand and Vietnam for canola meal, Malaysia for canola oil, and Indonesia for all canola products. Taiwan and India, also noted in the committee's motion, purchase an additional $10 million and $6 million of canola oil a year, respectively.
The tabled objectives of negotiations for potential agreements with ASEAN and Indonesia aim to deliver commercially meaningful market access through the elimination of tariff and non-tariff trade barriers. While tariffs exist in Thailand and Indonesia, non-tariff barriers are increasing in number and are becoming more complex. While this is not unique to the Indo-Pacific, they curtail our growth potential and serve as a barrier to building markets in the region. As such, we see three distinct but interlinked opportunities for the government's Indo-Pacific strategy and the committee's study.
I'll turn it over to my colleague, Janelle, to further elaborate on these priorities.