For a few days in early April, there was hope and confusion among canola growers.
China, which blacklisted canola exports from Canada last year, seemed prepared to re-open the market.
The Chinese relaxed a restriction on dockage of canola to one per cent from 2.5 per cent. Dockage is a reduction in weight to allow for unwanted matter like weeds.
The relaxed dockage requirement had the canola industry thinking China will accept canola exports from here.
Federal Agriculture Minister Anne-Marie Bibeau said that Viterra and Richardson International remain delisted for Chinese imports of canola.
External Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said that positive talks to allow Canadian canola exports to China are ongoing.
Canada shipped about 30 per cent of usual canola exports to China in 2019. Usually Canada exported 40 per cent of the $2.7 billion crop to China.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
