International Trade Committee on Feb. 10th, 2026

[Jorge Correa]

I'll answer that, too. There are major business opportunities in Asia; beef is a $5‑billion market, and pork is a $3.5‑billion market. We already have a presence in Asian countries, and we are very important in the Philippines. Malaysia has been a new market for about two years. We have really taken advantage of those markets over the past few years thanks to the agreements. There are also business opportunities in Thailand, and today we're talking about Indonesia. I think diversification is necessary, and the Indo-Pacific region gives us great opportunities to achieve that.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

We're all in favour of developing new markets, as I said earlier. It's an excellent idea. However, if we look at the agreement with Indonesia, a number of producers are telling us about the four-month residency requirement in Canada. Why is Indonesia imposing that? Do we not have the best standards? It seems to me that our health standards are extraordinary in Canada. Why are they imposing that on us?

[Jorge Correa]

Maybe it's because they don't know about our integration with the United States. There needs to be a better explanation of how integrated the two countries are when it comes to live animals and meat. For us, it's something that needs to be explained.

We raised the issue with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Certain things will be resolved in that regard so that we can continue to export as we are currently doing with this integration, when we have live animals coming from the United States, especially.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

As I said earlier, we are all in favour of developing new markets. In terms of your exports, what percentage goes to the United States, approximately?

[Jorge Correa]

For pork, it's 35%. For beef, it's 70%.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

So it's about 50% of all exports.

[Jorge Correa]

Yes.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

The CUSMA review will soon be under way. Do you have any concerns about that?

[Jorge Correa]

Absolutely. In recent years, we've had free trade with the United States, and we've become very integrated in the supply chain. This is very worrisome, but we are working very hard with our counterparts in the United States and Mexico to continue to have a viable trade agreement with those two countries.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Do you think that the current government should make it a priority to negotiate this agreement, and quickly, to ensure that it's renewed?

[Jorge Correa]

Ms. Citeau, would you like to respond?

[Claire Citeau, Vice-President, International Trade, Canadian Meat Council]

Yes. It's important to ensure that the agreement is renewed. Our main goal is to ensure that the current terms and measures, which enable us to trade largely tariff‑free with the United States and Mexico, remain intact. We're working closely and engaging in discussions with the negotiators, the government and our Mexican colleagues. We're also making regular visits to Washington.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Thank you for your time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Lavoie.

[Steeve Lavoie, Liberal, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I would like to thank the witnesses for joining us today. It's always good to see you and to hear from you.

Before asking my questions, I would like to reiterate that today is February 10, Agriculture Day in Canada. I wanted to focus on the significance of this day. I'm particularly proud, since I come from a dairy farm in the Bas-Saint‑Laurent region. This day is near and dear to my heart.

I would also like to point out that my parents' dairy farm, where I grew up, was one of the first in Quebec to go organic. Agriculture has always been important to me. There are 200,000 family farms in Canada, and the agricultural sector generated $150 billion and 7% of the GDP in 2025. This shows the importance of agriculture. We're aware of it. Thank you for joining us today.

Mr. Innes, you spoke about the uncertainty of American policies, the risk for Canadian soybean producers and the strategic importance of the Canada‑Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. It provides an opportunity for soybean producers.

What markets does the Indo‑Pacific region currently offer? What are the most promising prospects for the Canadian soybean sector? What market tools or legislative frameworks would make this diversification easier?

[Brian Innes]

Thank you for the question.

First, Indonesia is one of the most important Indo‑Pacific and global markets for our soybean exports. Quebec producers export about 80% of their soybeans. Canadian producers export around 70% of their soybeans. In terms of exports, we see much more value in the major Indo‑Pacific markets such as Indonesia. We see more value and more quantity. This means that, as society changes, so do food preferences.

When I was in Indonesia last year—I went there twice with our exporters and producers—we talked about our clients and their growing demand for soybeans without genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, for example. We now export both GMO and non‑GMO soybeans to Indonesia. We're seeing an increase in both value and quantity.

To answer the second part of your question, chapter 2 of the agreement contains a section on biotechnology. Our producers and our industry must adapt innovation to Canada. This agreement is useful. It establishes a framework for government officials when they discuss how to prevent the risks associated with non‑tariff barriers stemming from technology, such as biotechnology.

Tools of this nature concerning biotechnology can now be found in chapter 2 of the agreement. In chapter 20, these tools concern sanitary and phytosanitary dialogue.

We see that this type of agreement is really the best that we can do right now to help our sector and our producers.

[Steeve Lavoie, Liberal, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Innes.

You said that American political uncertainty posed a major risk to your industry. How could this new economic partnership agreement with Indonesia help to alleviate this uncertainty?

[Brian Innes]

When we were in Indonesia—twice last year—we heard the country's perspective on its options. In the industrial world, its options are Canada, the United States and South America.

When I spoke with our client, I heard that he did indeed want to do business with Canada, but that he was also facing a great deal of pressure from the Americans.

In the Canadian sector, we need options around the world. To ensure a more stable option with Indonesia—despite the pressure that our Indonesian clients are facing from the United States—we need to show the country that Canada takes its relations seriously. Even though we're far away and on the other side of the world, Canada remains important to them if they want to eat. Our relations with this country certainly play a key role in the success of our industry in Canada.

[Steeve Lavoie, Liberal, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Thank you.

Let's talk about long‑term investments in infrastructure. If we want to strengthen your industry's supply chain, how important are tariff stability and predictability? How do they fit in with long‑term infrastructure investments?

[Brian Innes]

Yes, certainly. Let's look at the infrastructure in the soybean industry. We export our products east and west from places such as Montreal, Vancouver and Prince Rupert. Rail infrastructure and ports are important. We now see the expansion of the port in Contrecoeur as a key way to increase our capacity to export and import with containers. The soybean industry exports in containers. We have empty containers from imports. We can fill them with our soybeans and export them around the world. We see the capacity of rail and port infrastructure, even if the focus is only on Toronto and Montreal, as crucial to maintaining the confidence of our international clients.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much.

Monsieur Savard-Tremblay, you have six minutes, please.

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I would like to thank all the witnesses for their remarks today.

Mr. Trew, you made some points that have come up often, especially during your visits here. For example, you spoke about the ongoing problem of the lack of real protection for workers and the environment, as well as the investor‑state dispute settlement issue.

However, I don't think that we've heard your point regarding digital trade as part of the agreement with Indonesia until now. Could you tell us more? This is quite new to me.

[Stuart Trew]

Are you asking me how our trade will grow, because it's so small?

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

No. My question is about digital trade.

[Stuart Trew]

Digital trade—

I'm sorry. I'll put this on for the interpretation.