Saskatchewan could hold the key to Canada’s foreign trade goals
6/18/202626 min
Could Saskatchewan be the key to unlocking Canada’s trade potential? While Ottawa works to double non-U.S. exports over the next decade and rebuild important partnerships, politicians and business leaders may learn a lot by looking to the province in the centre of the country. Nearly twenty years ago, Saskatchewan began strategically diversifying their trading partnerships. It was a great success – the province now exports over 65 per cent of what it makes to about 160 countries.
Today, the Globe’s agriculture and food policy reporter Kate Helmore explains how Saskatchewan made a name for itself overseas and what Ottawa could learn as it seeks to branch out to new trading partners.
Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com
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First 90 secondsCheryl Sutherland· Host0:00
[chime] Canada is cultivating its global trade relationships as it tries to diversify away from the US. [upbeat music] This hasn't been easy work, especially when some relationships, like the ones with China and India, were on rocky footing. But while Canada is trying to rebuild some partnerships, Saskatchewan has kept close ties, and that's led to the province more than doubling their exports in the past two decades. Saskatchewan has basically created a playbook on diversifying trade abroad.
Kate Helmore· Guest0:37
This is a world of relationships. It's about two human beings who know each other, being in the same space, getting to know each other, building trust, and then allowing that to mature over time, to be present, to be consistent. And I think that's something that Saskatchewan decided to do in quite a strategic way about 20 years ago, and it's a really interesting lesson for Canada that is now trying to do the same thing.
Cheryl Sutherland· Host1:01
Today, Kate Helmore, The Globe's agriculture and food policy reporter, joins us. She'll explain how Saskatchewan made a name for itself overseas and what Ottawa can learn as it seeks to branch out to new trading partners. I'm Cheryl Sutherland, and this is The Decibel from The Globe and Mail. [upbeat music] Hi, Kate. Nice to see you.
Kate Helmore· Guest1:27
Nice to see you, too.
Cheryl Sutherland· Host1:28
So Kate, before we dive into