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CBC
30 minutes ago
- CBC
Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu eyes new markets, smaller trade delegations
Ottawa's new trade minister says he's looking to sign deals in South America, Southeast Asia, Africa and beyond — and to convince businesses to actually use the trade agreements Canada has already signed. "My primary role as Canada's top salesman is to be out there hustling, opening doors for businesses and accessing new markets," Maninder Sidhu told The Canadian Press. "My phone has been ringing with opportunities because people want to deal with reliable, stable trading partners." Prime Minister Mark Carney has tasked Dominic LeBlanc as the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade. Sidhu's job focuses on countries other than the U.S. Export Development Canada says Ottawa has 15 free trade agreements covering 51 countries, offering Canadian exporters preferential access to over 1.5 billion consumers. WATCH | Trump increases tariff on Canada to 35%, White House says: Trump increases tariff on Canada to 35%, White House says 3 days ago U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order increasing tariffs on Canadian goods that don't meet the terms of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement to 35 per cent. But Sidhu said Canadian businesses could be doing a lot more to look beyond the U.S., particularly as Washington threatens and imposes a range of tariffs. Four years within Global Affairs Canada Sidhu served four years as a parliamentary secretary in roles reflecting all three branches of Global Affairs Canada: aid, trade and diplomacy. The job saw him represent Canada in trade promotion events in Southeast Asia and security forums in the Caribbean. Before politics, he worked as a customs broker, a job that focuses on navigating red tape and tariffs to secure the best rate for trading goods. Sidhu said he plans to visit Brazil soon as the South American country seeks to revive trade talks that kicked off in 2018 between the Mercosur trade bloc and Canada. Smaller trade delegations His predecessor Mary Ng emphasized large trade missions that took months to plan. The minister would sometimes fill a plane with corporate and business leaders, spending a substantial chunk of time in one or two countries. Sidhu said he is hoping to bring smaller delegations of companies with him on his trips abroad, with a focus on specific sectors, "whether it's South America, Indo-Pacific to Europe, to Africa." "Businesses feel like they're heard, but they're also getting higher-level meetings on the opposite side in the countries that we take them into," he said. Ottawa is navigating its trade ties with China as the two countries work to revive the decades-old Joint Economic and Trade Commission, a forum to sort out trade irritants. China has been roundly accused of engaging in coercive trade practices and of restricting certain commodities or services like tourism during political disagreements with Ottawa. Sidhu said the goal there is to offer "stability" to industry, with an emphasis on "how do we work through those challenges, and how do we make sure that those conversations are facilitated." Sidhu also downplayed the chances of a bilateral trade deal with the United Kingdom. Trade talks collapsed last year over the U.K.'s desire to sell more cheese in Canada and after Britain blocked Canadian hormone-treated beef. Both countries are using a temporary deal put in place after Britain left the European Union, and the U.K. will soon enter a trade bloc that focuses on the Pacific Rim, Sidhu noted. He said Canada would still be open to a full deal. "If U.K. and Canadian businesses already have access on 99 per cent of the items that we trade, then if we're looking at trade agreements, we need to make sure that we're getting the best value for our negotiations," Sidhu said. He also said Canada could consider "sector-specific agreements" with other countries, instead of comprehensive deals that span most industries. "We are getting very creative in how we can open up more doors." Canada-India trade Sidhu did not name specific countries with which Canada might pursue sector-specific agreements. Canada had been looking at a trade agreement with India that would be limited to certain sectors — before Ottawa suspended talks in 2023 following an assassination the RCMP has linked to New Delhi. Ottawa launched security talks with India this spring and agreed to re-establish high commissioners. Sidhu was circumspect when asked when Canada might re-establish trade talks with India. "This is a step-by-step approach," he said, adding that the eventual return of top envoys will help "to carry out those very important conversations." Sidhu said Global Affairs Canada is still sorting out how Carney's decision to cut spending in all departments will affect the trade branch. "It's really going to be a focused approach of where we can make the best impact," Sidhu said. The Business Council of Canada has urged Ottawa to expand the number of trade commissioners, who provide the contacts on the ground for Canadian companies looking for export opportunities. While Sidhu did not say whether Ottawa's cuts will mean fewer trade commissioners, he said he's heard a clear message from chambers of commerce that these positions are extremely valuable. "It comes down to return on investments, what programs are working [and] where can we get the best bang for our buck for Canadian industry and Canadian workers," he said.
Canada News.Net
3 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
Witkoff arrives in Gaza to address humanitarian crisis
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Israel this week to address the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. His visit comes as the death toll among Palestinians seeking food and aid continues to increase. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 91 Palestinians were killed and more than 600 injured in the past 24 hours while attempting to obtain aid. Among them, 54 people died in northern Gaza near the Zikim crossing while waiting for food. Officials indicated that the numbers may rise, as many of the casualties were taken to hospitals that remain isolated and short of medical supplies. According to the White House, Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee inspected food distribution efforts in Gaza. Israel's military stated that Palestinians surrounded aid trucks and that its forces fired warning shots into the air, but denied causing injuries. An Israeli security official, speaking anonymously, said the gunfire that led to deaths came from within the crowd as people struggled over supplies. Incidents linked to food distribution continue to occur across the territory. In Zawaida, a city in central Gaza, aid was delivered by airdrop because border crossings remain closed. Crowds rushed to collect the packages, leading to clashes and injuries. Residents described their difficulties in accessing the limited aid. Eslam al-Telbany, displaced from Jabaliya, said she lost the food she had collected after being attacked in the crowd. Ahmed al-Khatib said his flour was stolen and that he broke a tooth during the incident. Another displaced woman, Rana Attia, said people preferred being notified by text message about collection points rather than chasing parcels dropped from aircraft. Humanitarian organizations continue to state that current aid levels are far below requirements. They estimate that 500 to 600 trucks per day are needed to cover basic needs. Israeli authorities reported that 270 trucks of aid entered Gaza, while airdrops delivered 32 pallets. Israel has recently announced measures intended to facilitate more international aid deliveries, under pressure from the global community. International agencies have warned that Gaza has been at risk of famine for years, and that the recent blockade has created conditions where famine is now taking place. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also arrived in Israel for a two-day visit that includes meetings in the West Bank. Germany has traditionally been a close ally of Israel, but has recently pressed Israel to expand aid access and support a ceasefire. In a statement before his trip, Wadephul reiterated Germany's support for a two-state solution, saying that recognition of a Palestinian state should follow a process that "must begin now." Witkoff also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss humanitarian issues and the possibility of a truce. It was their first meeting since Israel and the U.S. withdrew their teams from negotiations in Qatar last week. Witkoff previously said that Hamas had shown little interest in reaching an agreement. President Trump commented on the situation through his Truth Social platform, writing that "the fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!" White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Witkoff was sent to the region "to save lives and end this crisis," and described Trump as motivated by humanitarian concerns. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas carried out an attack in southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Approximately 50 hostages remain in captivity, with around 20 believed to be alive. Israel's military response has resulted in more than 60,000 deaths in Gaza, according to the territory's Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but the United Nations and international aid groups treat its casualty figures as the most consistent available source. The humanitarian situation remains critical, with food shortages, difficulties in aid distribution, and ongoing political disagreements complicating efforts to ease conditions in Gaza.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu eyes new markets, smaller trade delegations
Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu speaks to journalists as he arrives for a meeting of the federal cabinet in West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang OTTAWA — Ottawa's new trade minister says he's looking to sign deals in South America, Southeast Asia, Africa and beyond — and to convince businesses to actually use the trade agreements Canada has already signed. 'My primary role as Canada's top salesman is to be out there hustling, opening doors for businesses and accessing new markets,' Maninder Sidhu told The Canadian Press. 'My phone has been ringing with opportunities because people want to deal with reliable, stable trading partners.' Prime Minister Mark Carney has tasked Dominic LeBlanc as minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade. Sidhu's job focuses on countries other than the U.S. Export Development Canada says Ottawa has 15 free trade agreements covering 51 countries, offering Canadian exporters preferential access to over 1.5 billion consumers. But Sidhu said Canadian businesses could be doing a lot more to look beyond the U.S., particularly as Washington threatens and imposes a range of tariffs. Sidhu served four years as a parliamentary secretary in roles reflecting all three branches of Global Affairs Canada: aid, trade and diplomacy. The job saw him represent Canada in trade promotion events in Southeast Asia and security forums in the Caribbean. Sidhu worked as a customs broker before politics — a job that focuses on navigating red tape and tariffs to secure the best rate for trading goods. Sidhu said he plans to visit Brazil soon as the South American country seeks to revive trade talks that kicked off in 2018 between the Mercosur trade bloc and Canada. His predecessor Mary Ng put an emphasis on large trade missions which took months to plan. The minister would sometimes fill a plane with corporate and business leaders, spending a substantial chunk of time in one or two countries. Sidhu said he is hoping to bring smaller delegations of companies with him on his trips abroad, with a focus on specific sectors, 'whether it's South America, Indo-Pacific to Europe, to Africa.' 'Businesses feel like they're heard, but they're also getting higher-level meetings on the opposite side in the countries that we take them into,' he said. Ottawa is navigating its trade ties with China as the two countries work to revive the decades-old Joint Economic and Trade Commission, a forum to sort out trade irritants. China has been roundly accused of engaging in coercive trade practices and of restricting certain commodities or services like tourism during political disagreements with Ottawa. Sidhu said the goal there is to offer 'stability' to industry, with an emphasis on 'how do we work through those challenges, and how do we make sure that those conversations are facilitated.' Sidhu also downplayed the chances of a bilateral trade deal with the United Kingdom. Trade talks collapsed last year over the U.K.'s desire to sell more cheese in Canada and after Britain blocked Canadian hormone-treated beef. Both countries are using a temporary deal put in place after Britain left the European Union, and the U.K. will soon enter a trade bloc that focuses on the Pacific Rim, Sidhu noted. He said Canada would still be open to a full deal. 'If U.K. and Canadian businesses already have access on 99 per cent of the items that we trade, then if we're looking at trade agreements, we need to make sure that we're getting the best value for our negotiations,' Sidhu said. He also said Canada could consider 'sector-specific agreements' with other countries, instead of comprehensive deals that span most industries. 'We are getting very creative in how we can open up more doors,' he said. Sidhu did not name specific countries where Canada might pursue sector-specific agreements. Canada had been looking at a trade agreement with India that would be limited to certain sectors — before Ottawa suspended talks in 2023 following an assassination the RCMP has linked to New Delhi. Ottawa launched security talks with India this spring and agreed to re-establish high commissioners. Sidhu was circumspect when asked when Canada might re-establish trade talks with India. 'This is a step-by-step approach,' he said, adding that the eventual return of top envoys will help 'to carry out those very important conversations.' Sidhu said Global Affairs Canada is still sorting out how Carney's decision to cut spending in all departments will affect the trade branch. 'It's really going to be a focused approach, of where we can make the best impact,' Sidhu said. The Business Council of Canada has urged Ottawa to expand the number of trade commissioners, who provide the contacts on the ground for Canadian companies looking for export opportunities. While Sidhu did not say whether Ottawa's cuts will mean fewer trade commissioners, he said he's heard a clear message from chambers of commerce that these positions are extremely valuable. 'It comes down to return on investments, what programs are working (and) where can we get the best bang for our buck for Canadian industry and Canadian workers,' he said. 'A lot of the business community doesn't even know that (the Trade Commissioner Service) is there to help. And so my job is to help amplify that.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 3, 2025. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
