Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is in Japan taking part in the first-ever Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Agricultural Meeting.

APEC is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries focused on promoting free trade.

While at the meetings Ritz is holding bilateral negotiations with agricultural leaders from China, Mexico and South Korea. Ritz is also discussing Canada's long-standing request for increased market access for beef in Japan.

Prior to the APEC meeting, Ritz led a trade mission to Indonesia and Hong Kong. In Indonesia, Ritz received assurance that Canada's food quality and safety controls  will be fully recognized, removing costly testing at Indonesian ports. Canadian wheat exports will no longer be subject to this additional testing.

~ Friday, October 15, 2010 ~