Mission to 2007 Tri-National Agricultural Accord, Monterrey Mexico - April 19-21, 2007

• To attend and participate in seventeenth annual meeting of the Tri-National Agricultural Accord (Accord).
• To develop strong relationships with Provincial Ministers of agriculture and with Secretaries, Directors and Commissioners of agriculture from states in the United States (US) and Mexico.
• To meet with Canada’s Consul General in Monterrey, Mexico and with the Monterrey Office of the Canada Beef Export Federation (CBEF).

• Honourable George Groeneveld, Minister of Alberta Agriculture and Food (AF), led a mission to Monterrey, Mexico, April 18 – 21, 2007.
• Minister Groeneveld participated in the meetings of the Accord and advocated Alberta’s agriculture interests.
• The mission also included meetings with Canada’s Consul General in Monterrey and with officials from the CBEF.

• Advocate Alberta’s agricultural trade interests in Mexico and the US.
• Promote understanding of the inter-connected nature of agriculture in North America.
• Advance dialogue between Canada and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners.

• Minister Groeneveld co-chaired the meeting of the Rural Development Working Group (RDWG) with Honourable Miley Gonzalez, New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture, and the Honourable Carlos Naranjo, Michoacan Secretary of Agriculture.
• Minister Groeneveld’s report focused on models for investment, financing and marketing, workforce development and organic agriculture programs. Mexico reported on agreements to advance research on sustainable agriculture, a commitment to work with federal officials to increase cooperation, and the need to develop an inventory of research programs and cooperative mechanisms including identifying scientific expertise that would be useful for all three countries. The US focused on water, soil and climate initiatives and workforce development, recognizing the need to alleviate labour shortages in the agri-food industry and to position agriculture as a desirable career choice.
• Minister Groeneveld offered to host the next meeting of the RDWG in fall 2007.
• Minister Groeneveld also attended and participated in the meetings of the Tri-lateral Harmonization Working Group and the Tri-Lateral Trade Remedies Working Group.

• Minister Groeneveld participated in the Mexico-Canada bilateral meeting which discussed: the upcoming US Farm Bill and its possible effects on Canada and Mexico; the continuing inability to trade in dairy replacement heifers due to US regulations; and collaboration on research, production and marketing of beans.
• Delegates looked forward to normalizing trade in live cattle and beef when the new US rule regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy is implemented.
• Minister Groeneveld participated in the Canada-US bilateral meeting and reported on Canada’s progress on animal health issues such as bluetongue and anaplasmosis.
• Minster Groeneveld also reported on Canada’s enhanced feed ban and emphasized the need to harmonize livestock feed standards between Canada and the US.
• During discussions of country of origin labeling for red meats, Minister Groeneveld re-iterated Alberta’s opposition to this burdensome and impractical law and encouraged the US delegates to re-examine the feasibility of implementing the law as it is currently written.
• Minister Groeneveld met with Maurice Desjardins, Canada’s Consul General in Monterrey, Mexico and discussed Canadian export markets.
• Minister Groeneveld met with Mauricio Ruiz, General Manager of the CBEF office in Monterrey, and discussed CBEF’s beef market promotion.

• Minister Groeneveld participated in the closing ceremonies of the Accord.