​​​​​​​​​Grains and oilseed producers, maltsters and canola crushers are calling on the Government of Canada to re-engage South Korea in free trade talks immediately, to ensure Canadian exports are not lost to competitors. Trade talks between Canada and South Korea have been stalled since 2008.

“South Korea is a valuable market for Canadian grains and oilseeds,” says Jim Everson, Vice- President, Corporate Affairs, Canola Council of Canada. “Canada and South Korea are well down the road on negotiating a free trade agreement to build on this market. It is important that negotiations resume and the agreement be concluded.”

The group says that without a trade agreement current agri-food exports to South Korea, valued at $600 million per year, are in jeopardy, and further growth potential of an additional $600 million will be hindered – sighting competitors such as the U.S., which recently concluded their trade agreement with South Korea.

The Korea-U.S. FTA (KORUS) that was ratified by U.S. Congress in October gives Canada’s competitor to the south substantial tariff advantages in most agri-food product exports including malt, canola oil, grains, oilseeds and pulse crops. Other nations including Chile and the EU have also completed FTAs with South Korea and discussions continue with other agri-food exporting nations including Australia.

The tariff differential will prove detrimental for some sectors. “Unless we have a level playing field, our members forecast that within 24 months the malt market in Korea will be a complete loss to major competitors including the U.S. and EU,” says Phil de Kemp, President of the Malting Industry Association of Canada. Canada’s malting industry currently exports 20,000 tonnes of malt – the equivalent of 25,000 tonnes of barley – to South Korea annually.

“Under KORUS American products including vegetable oil will move to a zero-based tariff over time,” says Rick White, General Manager of the Canadian Canola Growers Association, “leaving Canadian canola and canola oil at a disadvantage. An FTA with South Korea could grow canola oil exports from $43 million to $140 million per year, and growth in meal and seed exports are also possible under a Canada-Korea agreement.”

The Grain Growers of Canada also notes that Canadian exports of $2.7 million in pulse crops and $216 million in wheat could be disrupted without a bilateral trade deal.

South Korea is currently a $600 million market for Canadian agri-food exports. With 50 million consumers and a growing ​demand for food products, this a priority market for Canada.

The recent release of Canada’s Agriculture and Agri-Food Market Access Report 2010-2011, shows that the Government of Canada has taken positive steps to build a strong export portfolio for Canadian agri-food products. Negotiating a trade agreement with South Korea is one more step in enhancing market access for Canadian products.

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Contact:
Richard White Canadian Canola Growers Association Phone: 204.789.8821
Jim Everson Canola Council of Canada Phone: 613.230.9990
Phil de Kemp Malting Industry Association of Canada Phone: 613.290.7336
Bob Broeska Canadian Oilseed Processors Association Phone: 204.956.9500
Richard Phillips Grain Growers of Canada Phone: 613.875.1795