Mission to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau December 9-18, 2005

Purpose of travel:

• To attend and participate in the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference as part of the Canadian delegation.

• To pursue trade and investment opportunities.

• To develop strong relations with key government officials and businesses.

• The Honourable Doug Horner, Minister of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AAFRD) lead a mission to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau on December 9-18, 2005.

• Minister Horner, as part of the official Canadian Governmental Delegation participated in the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong. Minister Horner represented Alberta’s agricultural trade position, priorities and interests.

• In addition, Minister Horner met with key senior government officials, political leaders and business representatives in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau to advance Alberta’s agriculture and agri-food export and investment interests. The mission provided Alberta with a greater insight into each jurisdiction’s agricultural systems and an increased understanding of market and investment opportunities in each jurisdiction. Minister Horner also took the opportunity to meet with importers of Alberta beef in Hong Kong and Macau.

• Advocate Alberta’s agricultural trade interests and priorities at the WTO Ministerial Conference.

• Develop strong linkages with key government and industry decision makers to address food safety, trade policy and other market access issues with a focus on beef trade.

• Promote trade and investment opportunities for Alberta agri-food products and industries.

• Minister Horner was the keynote speaker at a luncheon hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce at which he addressed a number of issues including beef-border issues, the safety of Alberta beef products, the need for the Taiwanese Government to re-open its borders to Canadian beef and Alberta’s priorities for the WTO agriculture negotiations.

• Minister Horner met with a number of government officials regarding a number of agricultural issues.

• Canadian Trade Office – discussions focused on the political situation, market opportunities and strengthening the working relationship between the federal and provincial government representatives.

• Taiwan Council of Agriculture - discussions included the beef-border issue, traceability and bio-fuels. Minister Horner advocated for the re-opening of the Taiwan border to beef products under thirty months of age and suggested strongly that Taiwan should not use Japan’s under twenty months rule as the standard. Minister Horner suggested that an exchange of technical information regarding prion research, Specified Risk Material (SRM) removal and other related issues with Alberta’s Prion Research Committee would be beneficial in completing the risk assessment being undertaken by the Taiwan government regarding opening the border to Canadian beef. The Minister received a very favourable response from the Council of Agriculture.

• Taiwan Department of Health – views were exchanged regarding the closure of the Taiwan border to Canadian beef and other agricultural related issues. Minister Horner advocated that the Taiwan border be opened to Canadian beef products under thirty months of age.

• Taiwan Department of Foreign Affairs - discussions focused on the closure of the Taiwan border for beef and Taiwan’s interest in investing in Alberta’s Energy industry. Minister Horner reiterated that the Taiwan border should be opened to Canadian beef products under thirty months of age.

• Minister Horner also had the opportunity to meet with key businesses and organizations to discuss export and investment opportunities.

• Canadian Beef Export Federation (CBEF) (Taiwan office) – discussion centered on the beef-border closure situation, as well as strategies for market re-entry once the border is open to Canadian beef. CBEF has a well developed proactive strategy and plans to recapture market share once the border re-opens.

• Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Commission – the potential of importing Alberta malt for beer production was the main topic of discussion.

• Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Program for Agricultural Biotechnology - an agreement was reached on a joint cooperative venture regarding biotechnology and prion research. To begin the process, it was agreed to sponsor joint scientific symposiums on traceability, surveillance, vaccine development and biotechnology issues in Alberta and Taiwan.

• Minister Horner and Minister Ed Stelmach, of Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations, attended the 6th Ministerial WTO Conference in Hong Kong. The objective of the Conference was to provide direction in establishing and finalizing international trade rules for the current round of WTO negotiations.

• Minister Horner participated in a series of daily meetings with the Federal and Provincial Ministers of agriculture and international trade at which he stressed Alberta’s trade position and advocated that the federal government’s approach regarding the WTO agriculture negotiations, should take into account Alberta’s market access interests.

• Minister Horner also consulted on a daily basis with Alberta agriculture industry representatives who were in attendance at the Ministerial regarding developments and proposals to ensure their interests were addressed.

• Minister Horner also exchanged views with key WTO trade representatives and international trade experts regarding developments and approaches for advancing Alberta’s trade interests.

• At the end of the conference, an agreement was reached that included eliminating all forms of agricultural export subsidies by 2013; setting April 30, 2006 as the deadline for establishing full rules on market access, export subsidies and domestic support; and completing the current round of WTO negotiations by the end of 2006.

• Minister Horner also had the opportunity to meet with key businesses and organizations to discuss new export and investment opportunities.

• At a luncheon hosted by the Alberta government, Minister Horner stressed the importance of trade relations with Asian countries and had the opportunity to extend our appreciation to Hong Kong beef importers for helping to open the Hong Kong market to Canadian beef products and undertaking significant sales.

• CBEF (Hong Kong office) - approaches and plans for promoting Canadian beef sales to the service and retail sectors were discussed. CBEF has a well-developed plan to expand market share in Hong Kong and Macau.

• Noble Group Limited - discussed potential business opportunities in Alberta related to grain transportation and alternative energy sources, including bio-diesel. The Noble Group is an international supplier of agricultural and energy products and has investments in Alberta.

• CK Life Sciences International - discussions focused on identifying new investment opportunities in Alberta including in the bio-fuel and bio-gas industry.

• Hong Kong Jockey Club - export opportunities for Alberta beef, animal feeds/forage, grass seeds and veterinary supplies were discussed. The Club currently serves Alberta beef at its various restaurants and will include Alberta suppliers in its tendering process for animal feeds.

• At a luncheon hosted by the Alberta government, Minister Horner stressed the importance of trade relations with Asian countries and extended our appreciation to the local beef importers for helping to open the Macau market to beef products from Alberta and Canada and for greatly expanding sales.

• In a meeting with the Macau Secretary of Economy and Finance, Minister Horner expressed Alberta’s appreciation for opening its border to Canadian beef and explored the possibility of a joint venture that would establish a food product development center in Macau and that would promote Alberta food products.