A Canadian delegation is flying off to Asia this Saturday for a week of relationship building and trade engagement.
Premier Scott Moe, his export minister Warren Kaeding, and Prime Minister Carney’s parliamentary secretary Kody Blois will speak with government officials and industry stakeholders in South Korea, Japan, and most importantly, China.
Last month, China imposed a 75.8 per cent tariff on canola seed, which came on top of the Chinese tariffs already implemented on canola oil, meal, seafood, peas and pork.
Moe spoke at the Saskatoon Cabinet Office Thursday morning ahead of the mission, stating that his goal in speaking with Chinese officials is to highlight the benefits they could see as a result of a positive trade relationship with Canada, including economic, food, and fuel security. This would lay the groundwork for a deal to form between Prime Minister Carney and President Jinping.
Kaeding, who will begin the trip alone in South Korea before meeting up with Moe in Japan, says relationship building will be paramount in repairing and deepening trade connections across the globe.
“They (foreign officials) need to feel comfortable that they are dealing with a reputable and responsible government on the other side,” he explains.
Moe adds that regaining access to global markets is the answer Canadian canola producers are looking for.
“If we are able to have that access, there is no need for the canola industry producers to be asking for or requesting support from our federal government. That is not our initial ask, or our initial want, or the environment that the ag industry wants to operate in in any way, shape, or form.”
The Saskatchewan canola industry contributes about $43 billion annually to the country’s GDP.
The Provincial NDP stood outside Moe’s news conference, stating that this China trip was thrown together last minute, as well as six months late. MLA Kim Breckner also drew attention to Saskatchewan’s export numbers, which her party claims are dropping rapidly. According to Statistics Canada data from Thursday, Saskatchewan merchandise exports to China plummeted by 21.1 per cent in July. Year-to-date, Saskatchewan exports to China have fallen 28.8 per cent, and by 48.5 per cent comparing July 2024 to July 2025.