As global trade tensions continue to cloud the outlook for Canadian pork exports, Saskatchewan Pork Development Board General Manager Mark Ferguson is calling on Canada’s federal leadership to stay actively engaged with decision-makers in the United States and China.
While the latest round of U.S. tariffs—announced on April 2nd—excluded Canada and Mexico, the broader international trade climate remains unstable. The U.S. move, led by former President Donald Trump, involved reciprocal import tariffs ranging from 10 to 50 percent on 75 trading partners, heightening concern across several sectors.
“Tariffs, regardless of who imposes them, create instability,” said Ferguson. “They make products more expensive for consumers and disrupt business by driving up input costs. That hurts jobs on both sides of the border.”
The U.S. continues to be Canada’s largest pork trading partner, with approximately $1.8 billion in pork exported annually. However, the trade relationship is mutual, with Canada importing around $1.4 billion in pork from the U.S.—a reminder of how interconnected and interdependent the North American pork market truly is.
As for China, Ferguson noted that it remains Canada’s third-largest pork export destination, behind the U.S. and Japan, with exports valued at roughly $500 million annually. However, Chinese tariffs on Canadian pork remain in effect, posing significant barriers to growth.
“We need our federal government to keep the lines of communication open,” Ferguson emphasized. “There’s been some progress with the U.S., but there’s a clear need to re-engage with Chinese leadership and work toward lifting those tariffs.”
At this point, it remains uncertain how the evolving tariff landscape will impact Canadian pork in the long term. Encouragingly, Canadian pork and live animal exports to the U.S. are not currently subject to new tariffs, and ongoing negotiations provide a glimmer of hope.
“We’re in a period of cautious optimism,” said Ferguson. “But continued federal engagement is essential if we’re going to protect our producers and sustain access to these vital markets.”
