Additional supports available for P.E.I. agriculture industry in response to U.S. tariff threats

A farmer works a potato field in North Tryon, P.E.I. in this July 13, 2000 photo. (The Canadian Press / Andrew Vaughan)

Farmers and agri-businesses in P.E.I. will be receiving additional support from the federal and provincial governments in response to tariff threats made by U.S. President Donald Trump.

“As our local agriculture industry continues to deal with senseless international trade decisions from the current U.S administration, we need to be here to support our farmers and operators as they navigate through ongoing uncertainty,” said P.E.I. Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture Bloyce Thompson.

“We recognize and understand that this is a very fluid situation, and we will continue to work with our agriculture industry, as we always have, to make sure supports are available.”

The federal and provincial governments will be redirecting cost-shared funding into a number of existing programs through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) in hopes of helping agriculture industry in finding new markets and fostering innovation.

The programs which will receive the funding include:

- the Product and Market Development Program

- the Strategic Industry Growth Initiative

- the Business Development Program

According to the announcement, the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture will also be working with the province’s Economic Development, Innovation and Trade Department to support initiatives for trade and new market programs offered through Innovation P.E.I.

“We’re working closely with the provinces, territories, and folks from right across the sector to support our producers in the face of this trade uncertainty. With funding through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, we’re helping our hardworking Island farmers weather this storm so they can keep producing their top-quality products,” said federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay.

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