The Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, or CETA, was in the spotlight again.
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay delivered remarks at the opening of SIAL Canada 2017, the largest food innovation trade show in North America.
He was accompanied by Phil Hogan, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, who participated at SIAL as part of a mission to Canada to foster new business relationships in the lead up to the implementation of the CETA.
Canada is banking on the trade deal to help support innovation in agriculture and to capitalize on growth opportunities and create jobs in Canada as budget 2017 sets a target of growing agri-food exports to $75 billion annually by 2025.
Industry estimates peg agri-food exports will expand by an estimated $1.5 billion a year to the world's largest market for food throught CETA.
Minister MacAulay and Commissioner Hogan also delivered remarks at an EU-hosted information session earlier in the day that focused on key outcomes for agriculture highlighting opportunities for Canadian and European agricultural exporters to take full advantage of the benefits of the trade pact.
