Canadian Malting Industry Welcomes Canada-Japan Trade Initiative

OTTAWA, March 26, 2012 /CNW/ - The announcement yesterday in Tokyo, Japan by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper that Canada and Japan have agreed to begin extensive negotiations on an Economic Partnership agreement is welcome news and has the full support of all industry members of the Malting Industry Association of Canada.

"The Harper Government has taken a strong leadership role in committing to the continued expansion of international trade agreements that reduce barriers to trade and provide the necessary impetus to expand Canada's export opportunities." said Phil de Kemp, President of the Malting Industry Association of Canada. De Kemp continued "An Economic Agreement that can provide preferential treatment for Canadian malt with the elimination of import tariffs alone has the potential of increasing export business for Canadian malting companies and Canadian farmers who supply us with the highest quality malting barley available. Japan recognizes our industry's commitment to quality and security of supply. This partnership initiative has the potential to provide economic benefits to our brewing customers and their consumers, making this a win-win partnership for the entire industry and consumers alike."

Japan is Canada's second largest export market for malt. Exports of high quality Canadian malt to Japanese brewers total over 150,000 metric tonnes annually. Canada presently provides almost 40% of Japan's malt import requirements for their domestic beer production.

The Malting Industry Association of Canada represents four major malting companies in Canada. They include: Canada Malting Company Ltd. with plants in Calgary, Thunder Bay and Montreal; Rahr Malting located in Alix, Alberta; Prairie Malt Limited in Biggar, Saskatchewan; and MaltEurop Canada Ltd. located in Winnipeg. Collectively, the industry purchases approximately 1.1 million tonnes of malting barley or 50% of all malting barley sold by Canadian malting barley farmers annually. Canada is the second largest world exporter of malt.

Phil de Kemp, President, Malting Industry Association of Canada. 1-613-271-9774