Canola industry officials working on China trade dispute says local producer

A Peace Region farmer and Alberta Canola Producers Commission director says everyone is trying to find out what is going on with trade with China.
 
That country recently stopped buying from Richardson International, the shipper of about 40 per cent of Canada’s canola exports, over claims of insect infestations.
 
We asked  Valhalla producer Andre Harpe if people in the industry believe it is actually because of the arrest of an official with phone company Huawei.
 
“You know, it’s really interesting, just because it’s hard not to go there because of the political situation in Canada and in China, especially with Huawei. As a producer, we have to trust in our government right now and that they can negotiate their way through this.”
 
Grande Prairie-Mackenzie MP Chris Warkentin says in a news release that Canadian farmers are “paying the price for Justin Trudeau’s weak leadership” and that the prime minister has “let China walk all over him.”
 
Warkentin says he is backing the call for an emergency meeting of the federal Agriculture Committee to discuss this issue.
 
Harpe says it is important to remember that it is not the entire industry affected by a trade dispute with China.
 
“This is basically an issue between an importer and one company out of Canada. The big thing is we’ve got to let Richardson deal with that issue themselves and, in the meantime, we have to make sure the rest of the canola industry is protected.”
 
Harpe says demand for Canadian canola is still strong in China.
 
“China is a valued partner and one of our biggest importers. They take the majority of Canadian canola. I think there’s still a lot of trust there.”
 
Last week, Premier Rachel Notley demanded the federal government stick up for Alberta farmers and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau get back on the job.