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Liberals promise tariff protection to ag sector

  • Alex Binkley

  • National Newswatch

  • April 6, 2025

Liberal Leader Mark Carney speaks about new tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump during a press conference in Kitchener, Ont. on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Food processing will also be encouraged

Ottawa-Prime Minister Mark Carney says a Liberal government will take measures to protect Canadian farmers and agri-food workers and strengthen the food sector from any tariffs imposed on them by President Trump.

The measures include defending the supply managed sectors, investing in businesses and workers and cutting red tape, Carney said in a statement in advance of meetings with the Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations and the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations and National Security.

“Canada’s dairy sector is off the table in any negotiations with President Trump,” Carney said. A Liberal government “will ensure Canadian farmers, ranchers, and agrifood workers have what they need to be protected and ensure they can get food from Canadian farms to Canadian plates. By safeguarding our domestic food sector and investing in workers across the country, we will protect our economic sovereignty and build a stronger Canada.”

A Liberal will implement a suite of policy measures to defend supply management and make permanent the doubling of the revenue protection for farmers under the AgriStability Program, from $3 million to $6 million per farm, in the case of significant revenue drops caused by the impacts of tariffs, extreme weather events and other external shocks.Also it will build more domestic processing capacity, including food processing capacity in rural and remote areas, with a new $200 million Domestic Food Processing Fund and increase support for farmers, ranchers and producers to access new markets for their food products with an additional $30 million in the AgriMarketing Program.

In addition, a Liberal government will increase the help for farmers and ranchers to buy new, more efficient farm equipment with a $30 million top up to the Agriculture Clean Technology Program and double the loan guarantee limit, from $500,000 to $1 million, of the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act program and expand terms by five to 10 years.

Carney said his government will stand strong against Trump’s tariffs, create new jobs, cut taxes for the middle class and build the fastest growing economy in the G7. “Liberals will build Canada strong.”

This news item prepared for National Newswatch