Thank you, Dave.
First, trade diversification is an important priority for canola farmers. While canola is exported to over 50 countries, a handful of markets make up the bulk of purchases. Ambitious free trade agreements with Indonesia and ASEAN would significantly extend Canada's networks of agreements and provide a platform to pivot and expand our export reach.
Duty-free access for canola seed, oil and meal would level the playing field with Australian canola farmers whose trade is governed by a 2010 agreement, as well as provide Canadian oilseeds an advantage over the United States. Given its geographic proximity and long history in the region, Australia already enjoys an advantage when selling into leading Asian economies.
Second, clear rules are needed to facilitate trade for agriculture products enhanced by biotechnology, including plant breeding innovation and grown using plant protection products. Such rules go hand in hand with commercially meaningful access as they are needed to create the certainty to grow new markets and to move major barriers faced by canola.
Considerable time and effort are exerted to manage asynchronous approvals of biotech varieties and missing and misaligned maximum residue limits for pesticides, resulting in delayed access to innovation for farmers or loss of important production tools altogether. With 95% of canola acres in Canada planted to biotech varieties, the two are linked. Farmers should not have to choose between access to innovation and access to a market.
Third, an Indo-Pacific diversification office should be established to accompany Canada's trade agenda and to capitalize on growing opportunities in the region. Complementary to the trade commissioner service activities, such an office would focus on strengthening market access, responding to emerging policy and regulatory issues and enhancing collaboration between government and industry to prevent and overcome barriers in a timely manner.
Many countries in the region lack well-developed science-based regulations and transparent commercial environments. A specialized multidisciplinary office could leverage its boots on the ground experience and regional connections to help exporters overcome market risk and proactively find solutions to the complex market access challenges facing agriculture.
In conclusion, the Indo-Pacific strategy provides the opportunities to further Canada's trade and economic ties in an important region. Commercially meaningful agreements and increased capacity to address market access barriers will create the enabling environment needed to grow canola exports.