Minister MacAulay to promote agricultural trade with California and the U.S.

OTTAWA, Feb. 19, 2018 /CNW/ - After delivering a keynote address to the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual convention last month, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay will be traveling to California this week for a ministerial mission.

On the trip, Minister MacAulay will be going to Sacramento to promote the Canada-California economic partnership and to highlight the strengths of Canada's agriculture trade with the U.S. With California's exports to Canada totalling $5.4 billion (CAD) in 2016, Canada is California's number one market for agriculture and agri-food exports.

As negotiations on a modernized North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) continue to progress, the Government of Canada is working hard to create new opportunities for producers and food processors on both sides of the border.

During the mission, Canada will be recognized as an important trading partner for the U.S. on the floors of both the California Assembly and the Senate. Highlighting bilateral agricultural trade benefits between California and Canada, Minister MacAulay will meet with a member of California's congressional delegation, and provide keynote remarks at a trade panel discussion alongside the California Chamber of Commerce.

Panel discussion participants include California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary, Karen Ross, California Farm Bureau Federation President, Jamie Johansson, and other key members within California and Canada's agriculture sectors.

The Minister will meet with government officials as well as industry stakeholders to underline the importance of NAFTA to businesses on both sides of the border.

"I look forward to meeting with representatives in California to discuss the tremendous economic benefits NAFTA has brought and continues to offer. We're keen to continue working with our NAFTA partners to deepen our economic relationship and strengthen trade between our great nations."
- The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Halifax

Guy Gallant, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, 613-773-1059; Media Relations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 613-773-7972, 1-866-345-7972