International Trade committee  Export goals are laudable. They are a metric by which you garner and gauge your efforts. Export values are a function of two things: volumes and prices. We can increase volumes by opening market access and whatnot. We can affect prices by building pipelines, quite frankly. If we

International Trade committee  When we were consulted by the federal government extensively on what the priorities were for the NAFTA renegotiations, we made it clear that it was to do no harm. By that we meant we should make sure we maintain market access into the United States, with 0% tariffs on all the thi

International Trade committee  The Canadian brand, in addition to safe and secure when we relate to food and food products, is efficient and timely delivery and most competitive prices. What we're finding, as you have noted, on all commodities and all exports from Saskatchewan is that we can get the deals. We

International Trade committee  The coordination of effort is critical. That's what the STEP model is between the province and industry. As I mentioned, some 22 years ago the province of the day decided that it needed to get closer to the industry it served, so all of our programs and services are designed and

International Trade committee  Certainly, and thank you for the question. Yes, our free trade agreements are primarily about access to market. It's about reducing tariffs. That's the prize, getting preferred access into these markets. Then there are the non-tariff barriers, which include sanitary and phytosa

International Trade committee  Yes.

International Trade committee  For certain, there are small and medium-sized as well as large players in the international agricultural commodity fields. Members of STEP include, for instance, Nutrien, Viterra and AGT Foods, but the vast majority of our members are small and medium-sized enterprises. In fact,

International Trade committee  As mentioned in my opening comments, there is a whole suite of risks for exporters as they produce their goods and ship them around the world. The tariffs and the reduction of tariffs and non-tariff barriers are only one element of the reason they're not successful or are relucta

International Trade committee  Thank you. Thank you very much for the invitation and the opportunity to address the standing committee as you consider how the federal government can better connect small and medium enterprises with trade opportunities around the world. This is an important subject. It's import