Latest news with #TradeandExportDevelopment
Hamilton Spectator
28-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Sask signs MOU with Alberta and Ontario on pipelines, minerals and energy exports
In the spirit of strengthening domestic trade, the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario have signed a memorandum of understanding on how to handle the safe transportation and export of oil, natural gas, and critical minerals to refineries, seaports, and points beyond national borders. 'Any time that we can focus on moving goods more efficiently out of the province, it's going to be good for the province,' said Warren Kaeding, Minister of Trade and Export Development. 'We're so export dependent, and in order for us to continue that export growth—because that's what we've seen over the last number of years, is significant growth, and I think all our sectors want to be able to participate in that growth for the future—we need to have an efficient transportation corridor to get it where it needs to go.' Kaeding says that includes the United States, even in an unstable environment where tariff threats loom and shift focus constantly. 'We can't forget about improving our access to the U.S. as well,' Kaeding said. 'They are always going to be a major trading partner for us, but we also are diversifying our trade away through each of the other ports into international destinations—whether that's Asia, or that's Europe, or that's Africa, or South America—each one of them has a different port access that would be the most efficient to get goods and services to them. That's why we need agreements like these, MOUs like these, to focus on what is best for Saskatchewan and as well as the partners that we're signing with—what's best for them to get goods moved more efficiently.' The agreement between the three provinces will help strengthen trade through shared infrastructure development and co-ordinated market strategies. One question on many minds is what that means for a true cross-Canada energy pipeline. 'He certainly articulated that he's willing to support those in the Canadian national interest,' Kaeding said when asked if Prime Minister Carney has indicated anything definite on the issue. 'I would say that certainly our premier, Premier Smith, I think even Premier Ford in Ontario, has articulated that will be in Canada's national interest to support a pipeline.' One study from the Montreal Economic Institute estimated if Canada had gone ahead with the Energy East and LNG Quebec pipelines over the past 10 years, some $38.4 billion in energy products could have been redirected annually to markets other than the U.S. 'We are sending a clear signal that Canada's energy future will be built by Canadians, for Canadians,' Premier Scott Moe said of the MOU. 'This agreement commits our provinces to work together to unlock new markets, shore up our supply chains from mine to port and advocate for the federal reforms our industry needs. By advancing pipelines, rail connections and critical-mineral processing capacity, we are safeguarding thousands of jobs, strengthening our energy security and fostering sustainable growth.' No movement on canola tariff As the landscape across Saskatchewan blazes bright yellow with blooming canola, the 100 per cent tariff on the cash crop heading to China is still in full force. The tax is in retaliation to Canada's 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles. Meanwhile, China is eyeing Australia as the source of their canola oil and meal products. 'China is definitely an important market for our canola producers, as well as some of the other destinations that we currently sell to,' Kaeding said. 'From what we understand, the Prime Minister has had a number of levels of engagement with Chinese leadership to try and work through this. I'd like to see something articulated sooner than later to make sure that canola markets are strong, and values are at the levels they are currently at or better. That makes sure that our crushers have a very viable large market to continue to ship oil to and meal to.' Kaeding feels a deal with China can't be made fast enough, but it's not a provincial decision—any deal brokered would need to come from the federal level. 'We're going to continue to keep working on them (the federal government), pressuring them, pushing them to work out this trade issue,' Kaeding said. 'It's not only canola, it's also peas and it's pork, which are also important commodities for us in the province here, too.' Upgrading Churchill Saskatchewan also signed on to another MOU last week, this time with Manitoba and the Arctic Gateway Group regarding the expansion of Arctic trade via the Port of Churchill. 'It's probably under-utilized for a reason,' Kaeding said of Churchill. 'It's definitely a very sensitive railway in that there's a number of issues—what it's mounted on, in permafrost, and going through sensitive areas for development. We know it's going to need a significant amount of investment, which all our ports do.' The northern Manitoba port is the shortest link from the Prairies to the Atlantic Ocean, and once saw Saskatchewan grain as a major export, until 2012 when the Canadian Wheat Board's single desk marketing power ceased on Aug. 1 of that year, effectively losing the port's largest customer. The Port of Churchill officially closed four years later, followed by significant spring flooding in 2017 that washed out tracks of the Hudson Bay Railway in 20 places. Earlier this year, the federal government pledged $43 million over two years through the Remote Passenger Rail Program to Arctic Gateway to fix the HBR. 'That's just again confirming our support of the initiatives we're going to need to develop national infrastructure—the corridors, the gateways,' Kaeding said of the agreement with Manitoba. 'You hear Premier (Moe) talking all the time about port to port to port, and whether that's the west coast ports of Rupert, Kitimat, or Vancouver, or east coast ports like St. John, New Brunswick now is a big one for our potash guys trying to ship potash into Europe. Even the ports of Montreal, anywhere along the St. Lawrence that is moving export goods and as well as developing and certainly understanding what we're going to need to put into Churchill to make it an even more viable port.' Busy summer for trade While some folks are enjoying a summer vacation, Kaeding has been busy talking trade and why places ought to do it with us. 'Looking at incredible opportunities that we've got from Armenia to Zaire,' he said, fresh off a string of meetings with international guests at Ag in Motion in Langham. 'There's interest from all over the world now in what we're doing here in Saskatchewan—especially in the ag sector and the value-added sector.' During the agriculture show near Saskatoon, Kaeding met with representatives from 15 different countries. Earlier this month, Kaeding was in Québec City for the Committee on Internal Trade meeting that saw the province call on all provinces and territories to join the new West Partnership Trade Agreement. The largest barrier-free market between provinces is comprised of more than 11 million Canadians with a combined GDP topping $818 billion. 'Premier (Moe) is signing MOUs that are certainly trying to enhance our opportunities between each province in reducing the trade barriers, improving the mutual recognition and labor mobility, just to make sure that everyone is focused on reducing the interprovincial trade barriers that currently exist,' Kaeding said. 'So that's definitely one area that we're focusing on.' Some of the results of the CIT include reducing party-specific exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement by an additional 30 per cent, the expansion of the Mutual Recognition Project in the trucking sector to reduce cost and improve efficiency, and an MOU on direct-to-consumer alcohol sales. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. 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Hamilton Spectator
23-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Province leading the way in housing starts
Recent statistics from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation show urban housing starts in Saskatchewan have grown by 108.6 per cent during the first five months of 2025, when compared with the same time last year. That surge in growth has ranked the province first place in Canada for growth in the category. 'The continued growth in housing starts reflects growing demand for homes,' said Melville-Saltcoats MLA and Minster of Trade and Export Development, Warren Kaeding. 'This demand is driven by a strong and growing economy and investment.' In May alone, urban housing starts have risen a staggering 205.9 per cent when compared to May, 2024—placing Saskatchewan in second amongst the provinces for year-over-year growth. Breaking down the numbers even further, work starting on single family homes rose 63.7 per cent while multi-unit residential construction rocketed by 617.9 per cent when comparing May 2025 to the year previous. 'Saskatchewan's economy continues to show positive momentum and investor confidence,' Kaeding said. 'More homes are being built, and more people are living and working across the province than ever before.' There are a few enticing factors that make Saskatchewan an attractive option for business as Kaeding pointed out. 'Saskatchewan's stable business environment, low taxes, utility rates, and competitive incentives are bringing opportunity, investment and jobs to the province,' he said. 'Initiatives such as Saskatchewan's Investment Attraction Strategy help to amplify growth in Saskatchewan and ensure continued business investment in the province. This investment supports resilient and vibrant communities for years to come.' At the local level, Moosomin made huge waves with their housing accelerator program, offering $30,000 to anyone interested in starting a build, plus more cash incentives for each additional door. With a deadline of 2027 to fulfill 43 new builds, the town is nicely poised to reach that target. At last count, there are 24 multi-unit/other, nine multi-unit/missing middle, and three other. To meet the 2027 goal, there needs to be 12 more new builds in the multi-unit/other category. 'We're sitting at 37; we need to hit 43, but we do still need another 12 units of multi-unit/other, so we're actually going to end up over the 43 units,' said Casey McCormac, EDO with Gateway Economic Development. 'I actually talked to council the other night and asked them if they wanted to just incentivize the multi-unit/other, but we still have a bit of funding left, so we're going to continue to keep it open to any type of housing units.' There is continued momentum around town these days, as McCormac noted. 'We have a new house going up that just started on Main Street,' she said. 'There's a house on Wright Road, it's a house with a secondary suite at the bottom of it. Then there's two more building permits in for houses that haven't started construction quite yet, but they will be starting hopefully soon.' As for commercial builds, 2024 certainly noted a sharp increase with the new Borderland Co-op Food Store and IJACK Technologies shop expansion as prime examples. 'We definitely did at the end of last year and beginning of this year,' McCormac said when asked about the rise in local commercial construction. 'I'm hoping to see a little bit more happening, but with the Borderline Co-op and IJACK's shop, there is definitely a lot of money and commercial investment in our area.' The only problem now is ensuring construction aligns with population demands, with the province officially cracking the 1.25 million people mark this year. As of April 1, Saskatchewan's population was estimated to be 1,253,569 with a second quarter increase of 20,501 people when compared with the same time last year. That growth has also extended to Moosomin, though we will need to wait until May 2026 for the official national population census to confirm by how many people. 'Even just with the six-plex and the 24 apartment units that were built, the six-plex is full, and I believe the 24 units are about three-quarters full,' McCormac said. 'And that filled up within a month, two months, maybe. We could potentially be a little faster (with construction), but there are definitely people that are still looking for places to live in Moosomin and aren't able to find them.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
African Manager
08-05-2025
- Business
- African Manager
Tunisia and Nigeria move toward establishing joint business council
A visiting Nigerian delegation proposed creating a joint business council and increasing trade meetings between economic operators of both countries during talks Tuesday with Tunisian Minister of Trade and Export Development Samir Abid. The initiative aims to strengthen commercial exchanges between the two nations. The Nigerian delegation is participating in the 8th International Conference on 'Financing Investment and Trade in Africa' (FITA 2025) in Tunis on May 6-7, themed 'Driving Africa's Transformation.' In a Wednesday statement, the Commerce Ministry announced Tunisia's invitation to the 'Invest in Bauchi' summit scheduled for July 2025 in Nigeria. The event will provide Tunisian businesses with investment opportunities in Bauchi region, particularly in agriculture, infrastructure, and energy sectors. Discussions in Tunis also featured presentation of the proposed Tunisia-Libya continental land trade corridor to sub-Saharan Africa, which would connect Tunisia and Libya with six landlocked African countries including Niger, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic. Tunisian and Nigerian operators emphasized enhancing bilateral cooperation to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. Both countries are participating in the AfCFTA Secretariat's Guided Trade Initiative (GTI). Nigeria holds a prominent position in Africa as the continent's largest economy by GDP and most populous nation.
African Manager
22-04-2025
- Business
- African Manager
How effective is trade defense for national industries?
At a workshop on 'Trade Defense Instruments' held Monday, April 21, at UTICA, Minister of Trade and Export Development Samir Abid emphasized the importance of equipping national industries with mechanisms to protect against unfair trade practices. The event marked the start of a nationwide campaign, with similar workshops scheduled for Bizerte (May 16, 2025), Gabes and Sfax (June 2025). Minister Abid stated that trade defense tools—permitted under World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements—allow member states to shield domestic industries from harmful import competition without violating international obligations. He pointed out that trade defense is in charge of investigating, researching and verifying all information obtained from importers, traders, producers, foreign exporters, associations and interested organizations, in accordance with law n° 98-106 of December 18, 1998 relating to import safeguard measures. Anti-dumping tool and unfair competition In accordance with Law No. 99-9 of 13 February 1999 on the defense against unfair import practices, this body also carries out investigations to determine the existence of alleged dumping or subsidization and to forecast its extent and impact. The tasks of the trade defense body, its composition and operating procedures are laid down by decree. On another subject, the Minister pointed out that 'Tunisia's experience in the field of trade defense is limited to the opening of a few investigations in the field of preventive measures, which led to the adoption of a single preventive measure in 2023, while no investigation has been opened in the field of anti-dumping or subsidies'. He added: 'The company benefiting from this measure was able to achieve an improvement in its results in 2024, and this will be specified in more detail at a later stage. According to Abid, there are several reasons for this limited experience, the most important of which are: – Tunisia's limited investigative authority in its current form, which is not in tune with the specific nature of work in the field of trade defense investigations. – The limited human and logistical resources allocated to the investigating body (5 executives in Tunisia versus 370 in Egypt / 34 in Morocco / 28 in Jordan / over 100 in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries). – Economic operators' unfamiliarity with this mechanism (…). For her part, Dorra Borgi, Director General of Foreign Trade, pointed out that Tunisia was the first Arab country to join the trade defense body. She pointed out that the mission of this new body is to investigate, research and verify all information obtained from importers, traders, producers, foreign exporters, associations and interested organizations.
African Manager
17-04-2025
- Business
- African Manager
Tunisia: olive oil secures global spotlight as fourth-largest exporter
Tunisia is poised to promote sustainable economic development, drive agricultural innovation, and solidify its position as a leading global supplier of premium olive-derived products. The future of Tunisian olive oil appears brighter than ever, according to recent statements by Tunisian officials. Trade and Export Development Minister Samir Abid announced that Tunisia now ranks as the fourth-largest global exporter of olive oil, holding a 10% share of worldwide exports. Over the past five years, overseas sales have shown a consistent upward trend. 'Tunisian olive oil, renowned for its nutritional benefits, continues to stand out for its exceptional quality. Thanks to the relentless efforts of our producers and targeted promotional initiatives, it has cemented its place in international markets and shone at top global competitions, earning a record number of awards and medals, Abid stated. In 2024, Tunisia exported olive oil worth 4.8 billion dinars to 64 destinations, up from 55 markets in 2023. Key European buyers include Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, and Belgium. Abid highlighted that packaged olive oil exports now account for 21% of total exports, marking a 92% surge in 2024. He emphasized the sector's critical role in the national economy and its 'exceptional quality,' which positions it for significant growth in the EU and global markets. 'We are witnessing stronger export opportunities and direct partnerships between Tunisian businesses and European market players,' he added. New national program to boost global presence An ambitious 2025 National Program to promote Tunisian olive oil has been launched, featuring 20 promotional initiatives aimed at strengthening its foothold in traditional markets while exploring new opportunities. Developed in collaboration with key stakeholders—including the Export Promotion Center (CEPEX), PACKTEC, the National Olive Oil Office (ONH), the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts (UTICA), and olive heritage institutions—the program will focus on participation in international trade fairs, B2B meetings, overseas commercial days, and hosting potential buyers in Tunisia. 'These efforts will enhance global awareness and visibility of Tunisian olive oil in competitive markets,' Abid affirmed. Export revenue declines despite volume growth Despite rising export volumes, olive oil revenue for the first five months of the 2024/2025 campaign (ending March 2025) fell by 25.8% year-on-year to 2.126 billion dinars, according to the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI). The average price of olive oil dropped by 54% in March 2025 compared to the same month last year, ranging between 8 to 18.4 dinars per kilogram depending on grade. Export volumes, however, surged by 46.3% to 157,200 tons, with packaged oil representing just 10.2% of total exports. ONAGRI noted a stagnation in packaged oil exports compared to the previous campaign. Extra virgin olive oil dominated exports, making up 82.7% of total volume, while packaged oil contributed only 15.8% of revenue. Market distribution highlights EU dominance The EU remains the largest market for Tunisian olive oil, absorbing 60.8% of exports, followed by North America (23.2%) and Africa (9.8%). Italy leads as the top importer (29.8%), trailed by Spain (26.9%) and the United States (18.6%).
