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Premier Wall seeks to improve trade during Asia trip

Oct 7, 2013 | 7:09 AM

Prime Minister Stephen Harper isn't the only Canadian leader in Southeast Asia right now. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is on a three-nation economic and trade mission this week.

Wall wrapped up the Japanese leg of the trip over the weekend, and will tour the Philippines and Singapore before returning to the province on Thursday.

Wall says his focus is to seek new business and trade opportunities in one of the world's fastest growing import markets, and to say “thank you” for the ones that already exist.

“It's part of our growth plan” Wall said Sunday from Manila. “We know that it's the entrepreneurs of this province that are creating economic growth but government can set the right environment.”

We want to make sure we're thinking our customers,” Wall adds. “These are important, especially at such a volatile time in terms of the potash industry.”

Wall is referring to the breakup of the Belarusian Potash Company (BPC) back in July, which hammered potash stocks and put the future of the market into question.

“If you have good customers and times get volatile, I think it's important to send a signal that we appreciate the relationship and want it to continue.”

Wall notes that the Japanese have been excellent customers in recent years. Saskatchewan currently supplies 75% of Japan's potash needs, 80% of its durum, 53% of its canola seed, and just last year, 30% of its uranium.

There is room for improvement however. While meeting with Japanese Senior Vice Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Takamori Yoshikawa, Wall requested the reduction of tariffs on canola oil. He would also like to see the age limit restrictions on Canadian beef lifted, though they have recently been loosened.

“Our number one export market is the United States, and even though we're the second-least dependent on the United States of all the provinces, it's still 60% of our exports. That's just too much in one particular market.”

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