Canada Grains Council calls for strong action to address innovation-related trade barriers facing Canadian grain exports to the EU

Jan. 27, 2026 (Ottawa, ON) — The Canada Grains Council (CGC) has released a new white paper calling for stronger Canadian leadership to address emerging innovation-related trade barriers in the European Union (EU) that threaten the competitiveness of Canada’s grain exports.

The paper examines how increasing regulatory divergence—particularly in the EU—is creating uncertainty for Canadian exporters and limiting agriculture’s ability to support Canada’s trade diversification and economic growth objectives.

“As Canada looks to diversify trade and strengthen economic resilience, agriculture must be part of the solution,” said Erin Gowriluk, President of the Canada Grains Council. “Science-based, risk-based regulation is essential to maintaining market access and ensuring Canadian farmers can continue to innovate.”

The white paper warns that the EU’s hazard-based regulation and move towards pesticide reciprocity measures could restrict Canadian exports produced using crop protection tools approved as safe by Canadian regulators, setting a trade restrictive precedent that could spread to other key markets for Canadian grain.

To address these risks, the white paper outlines two key recommendations for the Government of Canada:

  • Establish and lead a coalition of like-minded countries to defend science- and risk- based regulation and promote trade-facilitative approaches to crop protection standards, including improved international alignment on maximum residue levels (MRLs).
  • Fully utilize existing bilateral mechanisms, including those under the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), to challenge innovation-related trade barriers and oppose the EU’s pesticide reciprocity approach.

“Canada has an opportunity to lead globally on science-based trade,” Gowriluk said. “By working with trusted partners, we can protect export markets, support innovation and strengthen agriculture’s contribution to Canada’s economy.”

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For more information, please contact:

Erin Gowriluk
President
Canada Grains Council
343-549-4767 | erin@canadagrainscouncil.ca

Canada’s Agri-Food Exporters Welcome Pragmatic Engagement with China

Jan. 19, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance welcomes renewed, pragmatic engagement with China that marks an important first step toward restoring stability and predictability in the bilateral trading relationship despite remaining market access challenges. 

Canadian agri-food exporters have faced prolonged uncertainty in recent years as market access barriers and sudden trade disruptions have limited their ability to serve customers in one of the world’s largest agricultural markets. Against that backdrop, renewed dialogue, reduced tariffs and progress on unresolved issues is a positive development for the sector. 

“The Prime Minister has shown leadership that creates new opportunity for the Canadian agri-food industry” said Greg Northey, President of CAFTA. “We have long called on the Canadian government to engage with China to support our ability to export to China without trade barriers – last week’s developments are a breath of fresh air.” 

Stable and predictable access to international markets is essential for Canada’s export-oriented agri-food sector. Exporters rely on clear, rules-based trade frameworks to make long-term investment, production, and supply chain decisions that support jobs and economic activity across the country. 

“The potential for more Canada-China agri-food trade is vast as Canada produces the products that Chinese consumers want to purchase” added Michael Harvey, executive director of CAFTA. “Continued engagement with China by government officials at all levels will be required to seize the momentum of this new era.” 

CAFTA encourages continued engagement between Canada and China to ensure that commitments are implemented and that remaining market access barriers across the agri-food sector are addressed. Ongoing dialogue and follow-through will be critical to rebuilding exporter confidence and strengthening Canada’s position in global agri-food markets. 

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 About CAFTA: 
The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) is a coalition of national and regional organizations that advocate for a more open, rules-based, and fair international trading environment for Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sectors. CAFTA’s members include the beef, pork, grains, oilseed, sugar, and processed food industries, who together contribute significantly to Canada’s economy and food security. For more information, visit www.cafta.org

For more information, please contact:
Hana Sabah
Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) 
514-834-8841 | info@cafta.org



Les exportateurs agroalimentaires canadiens saluent l’engagement pragmatique avec la Chine 

Le 19 janvier 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) L’Alliance canadienne du commerce agroalimentaire (ACCA) se réjouit de la reprise de l’engagement pragmatique avec la Chine, qui constitue une première étape importante vers le rétablissement de la stabilité et de la prévisibilité des relations commerciales bilatérales, malgré les difficultés d’accès au marché qui persistent. 

Ces dernières années, les exportateurs agroalimentaires canadiens ont fait face à une incertitude prolongée, les obstacles à l’accès au marché et les perturbations commerciales soudaines ayant limité leur capacité à servir leurs clients sur l’un des plus grands marchés agricoles au monde. Dans ce contexte, la reprise du dialogue, la réduction des tarifs douaniers et les progrès réalisés sur les questions en suspens représentent une évolution positive pour le secteur. 

« Le premier ministre a fait preuve d’un leadership qui ouvre de nouvelles perspectives à l’industrie agroalimentaire canadienne », a déclaré Greg Northey, président de l’ACCA. « Nous avons longtemps exhorté le gouvernement canadien à dialoguer avec la Chine afin de soutenir notre capacité d’exporter vers ce pays sans barrières commerciales – les développements de la semaine dernière sont un véritable soulagement. » 

Un accès stable et prévisible aux marchés internationaux est essentiel pour le secteur agroalimentaire canadien, tourné vers l’exportation. Les exportateurs comptent sur des cadres commerciaux clairs et fondés sur des règles pour prendre des décisions à long terme en matière d’investissement, de production et de chaîne d’approvisionnement, ce qui soutient l’emploi et l’activité économique partout au pays. 

« Le potentiel d’accroissement des échanges agroalimentaires entre le Canada et la Chine est immense, car le Canada produit les produits que les consommateurs chinois souhaitent acheter », a ajouté Michael Harvey, directeur général de l’ACCA. « Un dialogue continu avec la Chine, de la part des représentants gouvernementaux à tous les niveaux, sera nécessaire pour tirer parti de cette nouvelle dynamique. » 

L’ACCA encourage la poursuite du dialogue entre le Canada et la Chine afin d’assurer la mise en oeuvre des engagements et la levée des obstacles persistants à l’accès aux marchés dans le secteur agroalimentaire. Un dialogue continu et un suivi rigoureux seront essentiels pour rétablir la confiance des exportateurs et renforcer la position du Canada sur les marchés agroalimentaires mondiaux. 

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À propos de l’ACCA
L’Alliance canadienne du commerce agroalimentaire (ACCA) est une coalition d’organisations nationales et régionales qui militent en faveur d’un environnement commercial international plus ouvert, plus réglementé et plus équitable pour les secteurs agricole et agroalimentaire du Canada. Les membres de la CAFTA comprennent les industries du boeuf, du porc, des céréales, des oléagineux, du sucre et des aliments transformés qui, ensemble, contribuent de manière significative à l’économie et à la sécurité alimentaire du Canada. Pour plus d’informations, consultez le site www.cafta.org

Pour plus d’informations, veuillez contacter 
Hana Sabah 
Alliance canadienne du commerce agroalimentaire (ACCA) 
514-834-8841 | info@cafta.ca 

Grain Growers of Canada Statement on Canada–China Trade Developments

OTTAWA, Jan. 16, 2026 – Grain Growers of Canada welcomes renewed engagement between Canada and China, including Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Beijing and today’s announcement of preliminary steps to de-escalate recent trade tensions.

For Canada’s grain farmers, restoring predictability and access to key export markets matters. China is Canada’s second-largest grain market, and prolonged trade disruptions have had real consequences on farm revenues, cash flow, and confidence. Any progress that lowers barriers for Canadian agricultural products, including canola and pulses, is a positive step for farmers who depend on stable, rules-based trade.

Grain Growers of Canada has consistently called for pragmatic engagement with both the United States and China to protect tariff-free access and prevent farmers from becoming collateral damage in broader geopolitical disputes. Over 70 percent of the grain grown in Canada is exported, and there are simply no alternatives that can replace markets of this scale.

At the same time, renewed engagement must be grounded in predictability and follow-through. Canadian farmers need assurance that market access will be durable, transparent, and insulated as much as possible from future political escalation. Ongoing issues around trade enforcement, regulatory certainty, and the treatment of Canadian exports will require continued, steady government attention.

As discussions continue following this week’s announcements, Grain Growers of Canada urges the federal government to keep agriculture front and centre, work closely with producers and exporters, and ensure that progress translates into reliable market access at the farm gate.

Canadian grain farmers are ready to supply global markets. What they need from government is consistency, certainty, and a clear commitment to keeping trade working.

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC): 
As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 100,000 producers through our 15 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 120 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada. 

For more information, please contact: 
Hana Sabah 
Senior Communications Manager 
Grain Growers of Canada 
514-834-8841 | hana@graingrowers.ca 

Canadian agri-food leaders in Washington to champion North American competitiveness ahead of USMCA review 

Nov. 17, 2025 (Ottawa, ON; Washington, D.C.) – Canada’s leading agri-food exporters are in Washington, D.C., this week, meeting with U.S. lawmakers to underscore how the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA/CUSMA) drives jobs, growth, and food security across North America. 

The delegation, organized by the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), brings together 12 national industry groups representing Canada’s grains, livestock, food-processing, and life sciences sectors, industries that account for more than 90% of farmers and the agri-food industry that depends on trade. 

“CAFTA is in Washington to highlight what the USMCA makes possible,” said Greg Northey, Chair of CAFTA. “It’s the backbone of our shared economic security, keeping cross-border supply chains efficient, competitive, and delivering affordable, high-quality food to consumers on both sides of the border.” 

Canada is the largest customer for U.S. agri-food exports, purchasing more than US $722 per person in American farm products every year. 

The USMCA, which entered into force in 2020, faces its first joint review in 2026, a pivotal test of North America’s ability to keep borders open and supply chains competitive. Canadian agri-food exporters are urging all three governments to reaffirm the agreement’s full 16-year term to provide predictability for farmers, processors, and consumers alike. 

“Certainty is the currency of trade,” said Michael Harvey, Executive Director of CAFTA. “Extending the USMCA will send the strongest possible signal to markets that North America remains open, reliable, and ready to compete.” 

Canada, the United States, and Mexico launched consultations ahead of the review. CAFTA’s submission notes that despite political uncertainty, agri-food trade has remained stable, tariff-free, and mutually beneficial, with strong U.S. industry support for rules-based trade with Canada. 

CAFTA’s Washington mission also stresses the importance of managing trade, border, and security relationships as part of a single North American framework. 

“Integrated supply chains ensure the economic competitiveness of both our countries,” added Harvey. “This review is the moment to double down on what works: predictability, partnership, and a shared commitment that keeps our food systems resilient.” 

Representatives from CAFTA will be available to speak with media at the conclusion of the week’s meetings. 

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About CAFTA: 
The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) is a coalition of national and regional organizations that advocate for a more open, rules-based, and fair international trading environment for Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sectors. CAFTA’s members include the beef, pork, grains, oilseed, sugar, processed food and life science industries, who together contribute significantly to Canada’s economy and food security. For more information, visit www.cafta.org

For more information, please contact: 
Hana Sabah 
Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) 
514-834-8841 | info@cafta.ca 

Budget 2025 Provides Clarity for Canadian Grain Farmers but Raises Concerns for Competitiveness

Nov. 4, 2025 (Ottawa, ON)  Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) responded to targeted wins for grain farmers in Budget 2025, including the permanent reversal of the capital gains tax increase, but cautioned that other measures could undermine farm competitiveness.

“Budget 2025 acknowledged the impact that the capital gains tax increase would have had on family-run grain farms across Canada by permanently reversing it,” began Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of GGC. “This will ensure that family farms can continue their succession planning with certainty and that the next generation of farmers does not pay millions of dollars more in taxes.”

The budget also allocated significant sums towards trade diversification, including in response to the challenges that growers are currently facing due to Chinese tariffs on canola and peas. This includes the creation of a Strategic Exports Office and funds for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to modernize trade tools and secure market access.

“I’m seeing first-hand how trade uncertainty is impacting grain farmers across the country,” said Scott Hepworth, Chair of Grain Growers of Canada and a grain farmer from Saskatchewan. “With challenges in the U.S. and tariffs in China, producers are under real pressure. The new investments in digital export tools and market diversification are positive steps. We need every tool available to keep grain moving, find new customers, and protect our bottom line in an unpredictable global environment.”

Infrastructure also features prominently in Budget 2025, with $213 million for the Major Projects Office to coordinate public and private investment and a new $5 billion Trade Diversification Fund to strengthen Canada’s export corridors. With nearly 70% of Canadian grain exported, efficient port infrastructure remains vital to keeping products moving to global markets on time and competitively.

“We continue to urge the government to add the Port of Vancouver to the next major projects list,” said Larkin. “It’s the single most important export gateway for Canadian grain, and its inclusion would send a clear signal that Ottawa is serious about improving trade competitiveness.”

Missing from the budget, however, was any commitment to extended interswitching, a key measure that expired in March 2025 and had allowed the sector to access competing rail lines, reducing shipping costs and improving service. “Without extended interswitching, farmers lose a competitive tool that kept costs in check and performance accountable,” Larkin warned.

GGC also expressed concern over the government’s plan to reduce Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s operating budget by 15% over three years, a move that could undermine public research and breeding programs essential to innovation and productivity.

“While Budget 2025 provides much-needed clarity for farmers, it falls short of delivering the full competitiveness framework needed,” continued Larkin. “We look forward to continuing to work with the government to ensure the sector remains competitive, resilient, and profitable to drive Canada’s export economy.”

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC): 
As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 70,000 producers through our 14 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 110 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada. 

For more information, please contact: 
Hana Sabah 
Communications Manager 
Grain Growers of Canada 
514-834-8841 | media@graingrowers.ca 

Major projects list incomplete without the Port of Vancouver, says GGC 

Sept. 11, 2025 (Ottawa, ON) – Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) warns that the federal government’s major projects list remains incomplete without the inclusion of urgent upgrades required at the Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest port and the country’s most critical trade chokepoint. 

Connecting the Canadian economy to the fast-growing Indo-Pacific region, the Port of Vancouver is essential to Canada’s economic growth and prosperity. More than 50% of the grain grown in Canada is exported through the port, accounting for $35 million in daily exports of grain and grain products. Yet the infrastructure that underpins this trade, such as the Second Narrows Rail Bridge and New Westminster Rail Bridge, built in 1969 and 1904 respectively, are chokepoints at capacity with no redundancy if they fail. 

GGC is calling on the Government of Canada and the Major Projects Office to designate the Port of Vancouver and its connecting rail infrastructure as a project of national significance to secure trade, protect economic growth, and maintain Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier of essential products to the world. 

Unless critical trade-enabling infrastructure is prioritized, GGC says, Canada’s nation-building agenda will remain incomplete and fall short of its economic potential. 

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC): 
As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 70,000 producers through our 14 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 110 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada. 

For more information, please contact: 
Hana Sabah 
Communications Manager 
Grain Growers of Canada 
514-834-8841 | media@graingrowers.ca

GGC Summer Tour to Bring Farmer Voices to the Forefront of Federal Policy


OTTAWA, August 11, 2025 – As policy pressures mount across the grain sector, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is touring the Prairies to hear directly from producers and bring their concerns directly to Members of Parliament and back to Ottawa.

From August 11 to 14, GGC Executive Director Kyle Larkin will be visiting grain farms across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, joined by local Members of Parliament. The GGC Summer Tour will spotlight the real-world impact of federal decisions on grain farming including trade uncertainty, the capital gains tax increase and decreasing research funding.

Larkin will be available for media interviews to highlight challenges facing grain producers and the policy changes needed to support their immediate and long-term success.

Who: Kyle Larkin, Executive Director, Grain Growers of Canada; Members of Parliament; Grain Growers of Canada members

What: Grain Growers of Canada Summer Tour – Crop tours and meetings with MPs

When and Where:

  • August 11 – Randolph, Man. and Cypress River, Man.
  • August 12 – Carievale, Sask. and Churchbridge, Sask.
  • August 13 – Davidson, Sask. and Daylesford, Sask.
  • August 14 – Killam, Alta. and Smoky Lake, Alta.

Why: With harvest approaching and policy and trade uncertainty continuing to disrupt the grain sector, GGC is working to bring the realities of grain farms directly to Ottawa. Ahead of the fall parliamentary session, the Summer Tour will connect GGC with producers and local MPs to ensure federal decision-makers understand the immediate pressures facing grain farmers and the long-term solutions needed to strengthen the sector.

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC): 
As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 70,000 producers through our 14 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 110 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada. 

For media inquiries, please contact: 
Hana Sabah 
Communications Manager 
Grain Growers of Canada 
hana@graingrowers.ca | 514-834-8841 

Parliament Leaves Grain Farmers Behind by Passing Bill C-202

June 18, 2025 (Ottawa, ON) – Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is disappointed in Parliament’s decision to pass Bill C-202 without the thorough review and scrutiny required by parliamentarians, without consideration of its impact on international trade, and without regard for Canada’s export-oriented grain sector.

The legislation, which amends the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act to prohibit the inclusion of supply-managed goods in future trade negotiations, poses serious risks to the livelihoods of Canada’s 70,000 grain farmers, who export more than 70% of what they grow.

“Despite the government’s stated commitment to growing Canada’s economy and expanding international trade, the first bill passed by the 45th Parliament restricts our trade negotiators’ ability to secure the best possible deals for Canadians,” said Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of GGC. “This legislation received unanimous consent from Members of Parliament without consulting with the Canadians it impacts the most, forcing the Senate to fast-track a flawed bill.” 

Grain farmers, who rely on predictable, rules-based trade, export wheat, barley, canola, pulses, and other commodities to more than 160 countries, generating over $45 billion in export value each year. Bill C-202 now stands to undermine Canada’s ability to pursue and safeguard new and existing trade agreements that both support the sector’s export growth and the country’s long-term economic prosperity.

“With critical trade negotiations and renegotiations ahead, including with our largest trading partner, the United States, passing Bill C-202 sends the wrong message internationally,” added Larkin. “For grain farmers who rely on access to international markets, the result will be less ambitious trade agreements, fewer export opportunities, and slower economic growth at home.”

The Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is scheduled for review in 2026 and could lead to a full renegotiation. At the same time, the federal government is pursuing a free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a region that holds significant potential for expanding Canada’s agriculture and agri-food exports.

“Parliament chose to prioritize one group of farmers over another,” said Scott Hepworth, Acting Chair of GGC. “As a grain producer, I know firsthand how important international trade is to my family’s livelihood. Without reliable access to global markets, farmers like me are left behind. With Bill C-202 now passed, the government must refocus its efforts on helping grain farmers grow more food and expand our exports.”

To grow Canada’s economy and support grain farmers, GGC is calling on the government to seriously address issues impacting international trade. This includes critical infrastructure investments, especially at the Port of Vancouver, returning funding levels in public plant breeding research to pre-2013 levels, and bolstering the work of the Market Access Secretariat to address barriers to trade.

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC):
As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 70,000 producers through our 14 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 110 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.

Media Contact:
Hana Sabah
Manager, Communications
Grain Growers of Canada
Email: hana@graingrowers.ca | 514-834-8841

Grain Growers of Canada Welcomes New Cabinet, Urges Immediate Action on Trade and Tax Relief

May 13, 2025 (Ottawa, ON) – Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) welcomes the appointment of Canada’s new federal Cabinet and urges immediate action to support grain farmers and protect the viability of the sector. As Parliament prepares to return, swift action is needed to safeguard farmers’ bottom line, sustain Canada’s role as a reliable supplier of grain and grain products, and prevent further strain on the economy.

To grow Canada’s $45-billion grain export sector and secure the future of family-run grain farms, GGC is calling for urgent progress on three fronts: resetting trade relationships with Canada’s two largest trading partners for grain and grain products, the United States and China; passing legislation to permanently remove the carbon tax from on-farm activities; and issuing a formal reversal of the capital gains tax increase. Canadian grain producers are looking for these measures to be addressed before the summer recess to prevent further strain on family farm operations, export competitiveness, and the broader economy.

GGC looks forward to working with Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald, Minister of Finance and National Revenue François-Philippe Champagne, Minister responsible for Canada–U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly, and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Julie Dabrusin. GGC equally welcomes Secretaries of State Buckley Belanger, John Zerucelli and Rechie Valdez.

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC):
As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 70,000 producers through our 14 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 110 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.

Media Contact:

Hana Sabah
Manager, Communications
Grain Growers of Canada
E: hana@graingrowers.ca | P: 514-834-8841

Canadian Grain Farmers Threatened by Trade War on Two Fronts with the U.S. and China

March 10, 2025 (Ottawa, ON) Canadian grain farmers are facing a trade crisis on two fronts, with escalating tariffs from both the United States and China threatening billions in exports and putting the future of family farms at exceptional risk. The Chinese government’s decision to impose 100 percent tariffs on Canadian canola oil, canola meal, and peas comes as trade tensions with the U.S. continue to pressure Canada’s grain sector.

“With uncertainty mounting with the United States, our largest export market, the last thing grain farmers needed was a trade war with China, our second largest export market,” said Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of GGC. “Together, the U.S. and China account for over half of all Canadian grain exports — losing access or facing exorbitant tariffs in both markets at once is a threat farmers cannot afford to absorb.”

Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) echo the concerns raised by the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA), Canola Council of Canada (CCC), and Pulse Canada that farmers are facing mounting pressure which could cause a net loss for many.

In 2024, Canada exported 2 million metric tonnes of canola meal to China, valued at $918 million, and over 15,000 metric tonnes of canola oil, valued at over $20.5 million. The five-year average for yellow pea exports to China stands at over 1.5 million metric tonnes, valued at more than $740 million annually. Canada also exports over $17 billion worth of grain and grain products to the U.S. each year — a market increasingly threatened by shifting trade policies.

“These tariffs will push down the prices farmers receive for our crops, just as input costs and government regulations are already eating into our bottom line,” said Tara Sawyer, Chair of GGC. “When farmers see prices drop, it impacts every part of their operation — from how much they can invest in next year’s crop to their ability to support their families. We’re being forced to pay the price for political decisions beyond our control.”

The Chinese tariffs are a direct response to Canada’s recent decision to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum.

“Farmers are being treated as collateral damage in international trade disputes,” Larkin said. “We’re calling on the government to take immediate action — first, to engage with China to find a resolution and, second, to establish a compensation plan to cover the financial losses farmers are facing.”

GGC stands with CCGA, CCC, and Pulse Canada in urging the federal government to defend Canada’s agricultural sector and maintain access to key export markets.

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC):
As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 70,000 producers through our 14 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 110 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.

For more information, please contact:
Grain Growers of Canada
514-834-8841 | media@graingrowers.ca

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