Saskatchewan’s trade and export development minister Warren Kaeding is leading a week-long trade mission to China to strengthen agricultural ties and promote the province’s food and energy sectors.
Read more: GALLERY: New projects on full display at Lloydminster 4-H Expo
The mission, which runs from May 30 to June 6, focuses on reinforcing relationships with Chinese buyers who recently resumed purchasing Saskatchewan canola, peas and beef products.
The return to purchasing followed tariff reductions achieved during Premier Scott Moe’s mission to China in January.
“We understand that ongoing dialogue with China underpins trust and understanding between our jurisdictions,” Kaeding said Monday. “That’s why Saskatchewan has been present in China for close to two decades.”
The provincial delegation scheduled meetings with government officials, business leaders, private companies and post-secondary institutions. Conversations are taking place in Beijing, as well as the provinces of Guangdong and Jilin.
Saskatchewan and Jilin share a longstanding history, having established a sister-province relationship in 1984.
“This mission is a great opportunity to reignite our longstanding relationship and further explore the opportunities that exist between our two regions,” Kaeding said.
As an export-dependent province that ships 70 per cent of what it produces overseas, Saskatchewan relies heavily on stable international trading relationships.
The province operates a network of nine international trade and investment offices, including a dedicated office in China, to navigate regulatory trade barriers and market risks like tariffs.
Read more: Trades program for Alberta youth gets new funding
