Former Politician and farmer, Ted Menzies, made the trek to China to represent the Canadian agriculture sector's concerns on the trade front.

Menzies previously represented the former Southern Alberta riding of Macleod, and served as the Minister of State for Finance.

In early November, Menzies joined the China Institute, housed at the University of Alberta, to meet with their Chinese counterpart organization.

The talks were what Menzies calls "Track II Dialogue", which he explains is a discussion where you can be more frank, as it involves people still involved with Government in advisory roles or retired politicians, rather than elected officials.

Although he won't take claim for it, Menzies says it was the day after their intervention the Chinese ban on Canadian beef and pork was lifted.

"It could have been purely coincidence, but I guess the one bright spot in it is we didn't destroy anything if it was planned that is was going to be announced while we were there. We didn't wreck it all, so we'll take that as a bonus," Menzies humbly jests.

Menzies says he was invited to attend the annual scheduled meeting to express the agricultural challenges and implications Canada is facing as a result of interpreted trade between the two countries, pointing to commodities like peas and canola.

Canola Council of Canada President, Jim Everson, says the major canola seed blockage to the Chinese market continues.

However, in the update posted to the Council's website on November 29, Everson says there are some seed sales happening, but the permits for Richardson and Viterra remain suspended, in addition to heightened inspections on all seed shipments to China.

China previously represented about 40 per cent of canola exports, according to the Council.

Menzies explained to the Chinese delegation, farmers may be changing their plans to plant canola next year, which down the road, could lead to a food security risk for China.

"China loves our canola oil. It's the healthiest canola oil," he said. "They have a very secure supply of it. That may not be the future, and we've looked for other markets, and we've successfully found other markets."

He adds, that's not to say Canada would want to pass up the opportunity to sell canola into China.

 "I tried to drive home the point that this is worldwide trade. If you don't have a market, we'll find another one."

He says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and their Chinese equivalents are working very closely to see what China's concerns are with Canada's canola, whether it's a blackleg spore, impurities in the varieties, or actually the specifications the Chinese importer had asked for.

"That's always the challenge," he explains. "The Government may say that isn't what we would want, however, their food importer may have set that as specifications. We'll except X amount of dockage...We'll clean it out on this end and we'll use that."

Menzies says both countries agree science is fundamental to resuming canola exports to China.

He adds, there's some bumps in the road, but he's confident market access will resume.

After many trips to China, Menzies took note this was the cleanest air he's ever seen while in Beijing.

He says he's not sure if the air can be attributed to improvements or just the time of year, however, he says the potential advancements are exciting to see.

The China Institute expects the 5th Round of the Canada-China Track II Dialogue will be held in Canada in the Fall of 2020.

 

Send your news tips, story ideas and comments to jgiles@goldenwestradio.com

Follow on Twitter @GoldenWestABAg @JessicaR_Giles