Canola producers still waiting for Chinese market to reopen

Canola farmers continue to wait for progress in their trade woes with China.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced China was ending its ban on Canadian beef and pork with a tweet.

Good news for Canadian farmers today: Canadian pork and beef exports to China will resume. Thanks to Ambassador Barton and the Canadian meat industry for their work on re-opening this important market for our meat producers and their families.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 5, 2019

The meat export ban started in June, the canola ban began in March.

Despite the long wait, Todd Lewis, the president of Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, is trying to stay positive.

“We’re sure hoping the same work will be done and we can have the same result in the canola trade fiasco,” he told 650 CKOM.

Lewis explained that most farmers aren’t banking on China reopening its borders just yet.

“I think until we hear anything concrete, farmers are just hoping there’s going to be some changes,” he said.

Lewis, who farms in the Gray area about 40 kilometres southeast of Regina, said the focus now is just selling the crop people have.

“It’s time to start marketing some of this canola,” he said. “(We’re) certainly not impressed with the price, but I think there’s some shipping opportunities.”

Lewis believes the province’s trade mission to Japan and other Asian countries has helped open up the market there.

He said some European countries also seem more eager to buy Canadian canola.