Moe returns from busy week talking Sask. trade in China

Premier Scott Moe had trade on the brain Tuesday morning after getting back from his trip to China – appropriately enough because trade was what he was there to discuss.

Moe found a very receptive trade climate in China. He met with several people including those from the central government, and some from approval agencies for potash, uranium, and agricultural products.

“We had a busy week but it was a positive week,” Moe said in an interview with Gormley on 980 CJME.

Moe said $3.5B of Saskatchewan’s exports go to China.

“That’s about 12 per cent of our exports which is a substantial amount, but I think it’s also important to note that has also tripled in the last decade, so that’s a growing market for Saskatchewan products.”

NAFTA is making headlines again, and Moe said that while China is Saskatchewan’s second biggest trade partner, the U.S. is the biggest, and he wants the federal government to move forward with a solid NAFTA deal.

Moe also talked about the need to find more markets for Saskatchewan products.

“Ten years ago the exports out of this province were $16 billion, it is $28 billion today and we’re looking to expand that much further into the future.”

One way Moe said to expand would be projects like the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion — which the federal government is still promising to push ahead.

Moe said he and the Saskatchewan government will be advocating for the pipeline every step of the way.