International Trade committee  The U.S. government announced last week that they are giving $18 million a year to the U.S. Meat Export Federation to promote both pork and beef. I mentioned earlier that it's nice to promote, but market access is always our major problem. A point is China right now, where we've been actively shut out because of H1N1.

International Trade committee  Do you mean in terms of funding for exports? No. But at the same time, I wish to say that we work very closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade as well as with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to resolve, as much as possible, all the market access issues.

International Trade committee  I shouldn't say that they are underfunded as far as exports are concerned. The point is that right now the minister has announced the market access secretariat. It's being funded right now, and they are filling the positions. But at the same time, they have allowed the CFIA to fill back those positions.

International Trade committee  In relative terms.

International Trade committee  Indeed, our message is that we do not want to take any chances. If the Americans—

International Trade committee  The agreement has been reached.

International Trade committee  It has to go through Parliament, in fact, but as far as we are concerned, it is satisfactory as is.

International Trade committee  You can look at this issue from two different angles. If we shut the door, is that going to improve the situation for these people? We believe that it is by opening these markets up and by dealing with other countries that situations like that pertaining to human rights—

International Trade committee  If you shut the door, will that stop them from occurring?

International Trade committee  No, no. I will give you an example of what I mean. If you had asked us whether we wanted to sign an agreement with Korea in the 1950s, everyone would have said—

International Trade committee  Yes, but I would ask you the question again: if you shut the door—

International Trade committee  I apologize. As far as we are concerned, we believe that it is not by shutting the door or by further isolating these people that we will resolve their problem.

International Trade committee  That would be the ideal situation, but, in practical terms, is that feasible? I do not know.

International Trade committee  So far, we have not been able to find a reliable crystal ball.

International Trade committee  Yes, I could talk at great length, but you have only two minutes. As for exports, I would say that the future is bright but not in the short term. Currently we are witnessing a contraction in production throughout the world, and not just in Canada or in United States. We see the same thing occurring in Europe and just about everywhere else.