March 13, 2020 - The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) applauds all Parliamentarians for swiftly ratifying the Canada—United States—Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the successor to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The United States and Mexico are the first and fourth largest exports markets for Canadian food and agricultural products, making up well over half of total Canadian food and agricultural exports last year

May 24, 2019 - On November 30, 2018, Canada, the United States and Mexico signed the text of the new Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). The CUSMA will preserve the existing sugar and sugar-containing product (SCP) provisions between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico and will add new access to the U.S. for sugar and SCPs. The agreement will not be implemented until it is ratified by all three countries.

October 25, 2018 - Brian Innes, President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) today issued the statement below following Royal Assent of Bill C-79, the implementing legislation for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

January 29, 2018 - The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) today welcomed the progress made during the latest round of NAFTA negotiations and urged the federal government to continue working to reach a modernized agreement that will increase market access for the nation’s farm and food products.

May 09, 2017 - On Tuesday May 9, 2017, Canadian Sugar Institute President, Ms. Sandra Marsden appeared before the Standing Committee on International Trade to act as a witness for their study on the priorities of Canadian stakeholders having an interest in bilateral and trilateral trade within North America.

February 22, 2017 - Today the Canadian Agri-food Trade Alliance released a report on the opportunity in China for Canada’s agri-food exports. Canadian exporters continue to face serious trade barriers, hampering growth. Canada faces a significant trade imbalance with China, particularly in value-added foods such as sugar-containing products. The elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers would put Canada on a level playing field with other countries and enable Canadian exports to meet growing Chinese demand.

October 20, 2016 - The Canadian Sugar Institute (CSI) summarized the benefits of the TPP to Canada’s sugar, sugar-containing products and processed food sectors. Unlike most commodities, NAFTA did not open sugar trade for Canadian sugar and many sugar-containing products. The TPP does not resolve those issues but would provide meaningful improvements. The TPP does not address global trade distortions in sugar but there are also potential gains for Canadian exports in other TPP markets including Japan.

September 22, 2016 - The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) today applauded the federal government for announcing exploratory free trade talks with China - a market that accounted for $5.6 billion in Canadian agriculture and agri-food exports last year. China is Canada’s second largest two-way trading partner after the U.S.

May 05, 2016 - Canada’s sugar sector supports government initiatives to seek predictable and meaningful increases in export market access to diversify markets and improve the capacity utilization and competitiveness of Canadian sugar operations. FTAs like CETA and TPP are critical because they benefit the full value chain. The industry supports timely implementation of CETA. It is also essential Canada ratify TPP as costs of exclusion would put Canada further behind in food processing investment and trade.

January 11, 2016 - After careful review of the terms of the TPP, CAFTA announced its formal support of the deal and believes it is integral to the future viability of Canada’s export-based agriculture and agri-food sector. CAFTA urges the Canadian government to sign the agreement and press for its quick ratification by all parties. Outcomes are significant for Canadian agriculture and agri-food exporters despite the U.S. and Japan continuing to maintain restrictive tariffs and tariff rate quotas on sugar products.