Closeup of the flags of the North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA members on textile texture. NAFTA is the world's largest trade bloc and the member countries are Canada, United States and Mexico. 3D rendering with detailed textured grunge effect on closeup.

On the cusp of change on trade

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

One thing Canadian cattlemen can be certain of, they are not alone in their concern regarding trade, its importance to agriculture, or how it will be handled by the new Trump administration. At the U.S. cattle industry convention in February, anywhere from 250 to 400 cattlemen attended separate committee sessions on international marketing and export […] Read more


closeup of a cattle in a field

Trump delivers trade blows

Prime Cuts with Steve Kay: From the March 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

President Trump quickly shattered any final hopes U.S. cattle producers had that he would relent on his pledges to withdraw the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership or leave NAFTA alone. Now they and other ag groups will have to persuade the administration to open up export markets in other ways as quickly as possible. Many […] Read more

cattle herd and horse rider

CCA Report: Unleashing our growth potential

From the March 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Those of us in agriculture understand the importance of the industry in terms of economic contribution to Canada’s GDP but oftentimes it seems that clout is overshadowed by other equally key industries. That’s why I was pleased to see agriculture featured prominently in the recent Advisory Council on Economic Growth report. The report, Unleashing the […] Read more


US Capitol Senate building

Donald Trump’s cabinet and trade

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

Candidate Donald Trump was not an unquestioned free trader. While he harped on China frequently, and Mexico and NAFTA considerably, he claimed he wasn’t against free trade as long as it was fair trade. I have hoped that he would fulfill his promises to recover manufacturing job losses in America’s midwestern Rust Belt with major […] Read more

Cattle market volatility in 2016 has left many cattle producers on edge as the new year gets underway.

CCA Report: Cultivating relationships

From the February 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

The volatility of the cattle market in 2016, punctuated by very large and rapid market changes over the past three years, has left many cattle producers on edge as 2017 gets underway. At present, it is somewhat unfortunate that the extreme volatility has overshadowed the positive market situation. The start of 2017 saw calf prices […] Read more





(DonaldJTrump.com)

Protectionism game comes with raised economic stakes: Frum

As U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration day approaches, the business world is pondering how the new administration might affect the world economy. Trump’s pride in his unpredictability is troubling, given he’s the president-elect, said David Frum, political commentator, former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, and a senior editor for Washington-based magazine The Atlantic. However, […] Read more

Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, shown here at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference in March. Global Affairs Canada via YouTube)

Trudeau to shuffle Dion out of foreign affairs

Ottawa | Reuters –– Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will shuffle his cabinet this week and is set to move Foreign Minister Stephane Dion, who ran into political trouble last year, a person with knowledge of the matter said on Monday. “Dion is out,” said the person, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of […] Read more