The Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast, signed the Canada–Honduras FTA on behalf of the Government of Canada that will help restore pork access to a market that could be worth an estimated C$5 to $7 million dollars in sales in the first year of the FTA.

In addition to the FTA, CPC is pleased with Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz’s announcement that all pork from Canadian federally registered establishments can be sold into the Honduran market since Honduras has approved Canada’s pork inspection and certification system.

“We are extremely fortunate to have excellent animal health status, a good supply of high quality feed grains, a very low animal population density and a strong reputation all over the world as a supplier of safe high quality pork,” stated Mr Vincent. “Canada is a globally competitive and successful producer and exporter of pork and pork products. The key factor to sustaining our success is the ability to access a wide variety of markets.”

Canadian hog producers, pork processors and meat traders and the many other companies in Canada that provide inputs and services to our industry have a very strong interest in Canada aggressively pursuing further progress toward reducing agri-food trade barriers and trade-distorting subsidies, and achieving additional market access through the WTO, bilateral or regional trade agreements.

“Canada is already among the world's top three pork exporters that exported to over 100 countries in 2012,” added Mr Vincent. “The Canadian government’s commitment to trade agreements is key to maintaining existing pork markets and opening up new markets to pork is critical to the Canadian hog industry.”