Trade dispute with India 'concerning' (March 1, 2017)This whole trade issue is becoming much more concerning. I also have news that the U.S. is going to increase pulse production by a very significant percentage this year and years to come. Best to wait me thinks. https://thestarphoenix.com/business/local-business/trade-dispute-with-india-concerning-for-export-dependent-sask-economy The possibility that the flow of Saskatchewan-grown lentils to India may slow dramatically or even stop altogether at the end of March is a significant concern for the provinces trade-dependent economy, industry experts say. The Indian government this week refused to renew an exemption allowing Canadian pulses to be treated for pests on arrival rather than before export, which could affect around $1 billion worth of crops, many of them grown in Saskatchewan. Lentils is one of our top products that we export, and Indias one of our top export markets for that product, so it is concerning, Chris Dekker, head of the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP), told reporters Tuesday in Saskatoon. Saskatchewan exported $32.8 billion worth of goods in 2015 more than half of its GDP including about $15 billion in agriculture and agri-food products. The provinces lentil exports alone were worth $2.6 billion that year, according to the province. Unless an agreement is reached, Canadian pulses may need to be fumigated before export, which may cause difficulties in Canada, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers said this week. The exemption was created because fumigation does not work well in colder climates. Indias our largest market for pulse crops for peas and lentils, so the importance of India cant be overstated Ensuring we have ongoing, continual market access is a very important priority for us, said Saskatchewan Pulse Growers executive director Carl Potts. Dekker said while there are solutions to the Indian governments refusal to renew the exemption, including fumigating the crops in Singapore or other markets, that would require time and money, which could raise the price of Saskatchewan-grown pulses. Farm Credit Canada senior agricultural economist Craig Klemmer said Saskatchewan could also benefit in a period of uncertainty by refining the raw materials it produces, such as pulse crops, at home rather than abroad. Meanwhile, uncertainty driven by U.S. President Donald Trumps pledge to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) means Saskatchewan exporters are on the hunt for new markets, according to Alex Fallon, CEO of the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority. All companies that are exporting are definitely looking at their options and making sure their eggs arent all in one basket, Fallon said of the historically strong trading relationship with the U.S. According to the provincial government, Saskatchewan sent $18 billion worth of goods and services about 54 per cent of its total exports south of the border in 2015. Its next largest trading partner about $3 billion worth of exports was China. Dekker downplayed the potential effects of NAFTA being renegotiated, but said exports to the U.S. have declined slightly due to soft energy prices and that opening new markets for Saskatchewan exports remains a priority as economic uncertainty grows. The more markets we open up to our products, the better it is for our economy Its market diversification, so if something goes wrong in one market, you have other markets to rely on. With Canadian Press files