PHOTOS: Sen. Schiff Travels to Canada for CODEL to Discuss Trade Disruption Impacts on California, Golden State Agriculture

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the first Senator from California to serve on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in three decades, visited Canada this past week for a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) trip to share concerns about the impact that U.S.-Canada trade disruptions are having on California's industries, including on agricultural goods like wine and dairy products.

Senator Schiff sought to learn more about Canada-California collaboration, shared experiences from California farmers and producers he's met while serving as Senator, and discussed expansion opportunities for California businesses in Canadian markets.

"I met with officials to talk about the trade dispute with the United States and the different tariffs, and also to convey the sentiments of my California constituents and how they're feeling the impacts…[and] to understand the Canadian reaction and how Canadians are feeling about U.S. products as well as the United States of America. I went there not to negotiate USMCA or any trade agreement, but rather to talk about the [Canadian] boycotts on alcohol, and how this is having a particular impact on the wine industry… [and] disputes over dairy, disputes over beef, and other products between our countries, our mutual energy reliance, and other issues. And I found the visit to be incredibly illuminating and helpful," said Senator Schiff about his trip.

Canada is one of California's largest trading partners and export markets, with cross-border commerce supporting California industries including technology, aerospace, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation equipment, and consumer goods. California and U.S. wine, for example, have generated upwards of $1 billion in annual sales in Canada in recent years. However, California farmers and producers have been disproportionately impacted by bans on the sale of U.S. alcohol by some Canadian provinces.

Senator Schiff visited Alberta to meet with the province's Premier Danielle Smith, Agriculture Minister Tara Sawyer, and Utilities Minister R.J. Sigurdson. Schiff visited a rodeo breakfast in Edmonton and flipped pancakes for attendees alongside Premier Smith. Schiff then traveled to Ottawa, where he met with Canadian Minister for Agriculture Heath MacDonald and Member of Parliament Mona Fortier. Schiff also met with staff at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, the American Chamber of Commerce-which promotes American trade and investment in Canada-and American businesses in Canada.

Background: Senator Schiff has previously raised concerns about the impact that bans on U.S. alcohol placed by Canadian provinces have had on California agriculture. In June, he wrote to the Premier of Québec saying, in part, "I have had the great fortune of spending time with and learning about the challenges and opportunities of California's winegrowers. They take great pride in their work, are essential to the state and national economy, and have brought tremendous value - in culture and in taste - to Americans and Canadians alike. Reopening the market to American wine would restore consumer choice and signal a commitment to restoring fair and balanced trade for Québecois consumers and American wineries who have no connection to the underlying trade disputes."

View photos from the trip below:

###