Canada
and China have agreed on a long-term solution to a trade dispute over
$2-billion worth of annual canola sales.
Sources
close to the talks say the key issue of dockage remains unchanged at up to 2.5
per cent; China had announced a reduction to one per cent, effective Sept. 1.
The
solution is “predictable, science-based and stable,” ensuring access for
Canadian shipments to China, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in
Ottawa at a joint press conference with Chinese Premier Li Keying.
China
which has said it was concerned about blackleg disease.
Li said
the agreement runs until 2020, and in the meantime, the countries will study
the risk dockage may pose, he said.
“For
China, we have pretty sufficient amount of time to increase the quality of
exports to China,” Li said through an interpreter.
“That
agreement is in the larger picture of Canada-China relations.”
