Outdoor farm show a trade supercharger says commissioner

Canada’s top trade booster sings praises of Ag In Motion’s hands on approach

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Outdoor farm show a trade supercharger says commissioner

Glacier FarmMedia—Canada’s chief trade commissioner says Ag In Motion is a one-of-a-kind venue to introduce international buyers to Canadian farm equipment and the companies that make and sell it.

“I’ve never been to an outdoor show like this before,” said Sara Wilshaw on Wednesday afternoon, after touring the show site and speaking to equipment manufacturers. “This is amazing. Incredible. And the live demonstrations are so important, I think.”

Follow all of our Ag in Motion coverage at the Western Producer.

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In her role Wilshaw is responsible for helping Canadian businesses secure and explore international markets, find new customers and partners and grow Canadian exports.

Wilshaw told the Western Producer that buyers she met at the event welcomed the opportunity to escape the meeting room, observe equipment in the field and touch and test it.

“The feedback I’ve gotten has been so positive,” she said.

Wilshaw said the current volatile trade environment means it’s more important than ever to take a systematic approach to growing trade and exports.

“This is why we need partnerships, and why you’re hearing folks talking about our trading partners,” she said.

She noted Canada currently has 15 trade agreements, covering 51 different countries and spanning the globe. She also noted that CUSMA remains in effect in North America and trade continues to flow between Canada, Mexico and the U.S. even in the face of tariff threats.

“It is still working, there’s a lot going in CUSMA-compliant to the United States,” she said. “It is still, and always, going to be an extremely important trading partner for us.”

When asked about Canada’s canola trade to China, she noted she’s not directly involved in it, but that the entire Canadian government is aware of the issue and working on it.

“The government, and ministers, are acutely aware of it, up to the Prime Minister,” she said.

For more stories on international trade from Ag In Motion, see future issues of Glacier FarmMedia publications.

About the author

Gord Gilmour

Gord Gilmour

Publisher, Manitoba Co-operator, and Senior Editor, News and National Affairs, Glacier FarmMedia

Gord Gilmour has been writing about agriculture in Canada for more than 30 years. He's an award winning journalist and columnist who's currently the publisher of the Manitoba Co-operator and senior editor, news and national affairs for Glacier FarmMedia. He grew up on a grain and oilseed operation in east-central Saskatchewan that his brother still owns and operates, and occasionally lets Gord work on, if Gord promises to take it easy on the equipment.

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