I thank the honourable senator for his question. It follows earlier questions from him with respect to canola, which are also referenced in the question today.

Let me just review for colleagues what the Government of Canada is doing with respect to these matters. It is no secret that the Canada-China relationship is going through a difficult period, both on the commercial and political sides, for reasons that are well known.

With respect to canola, the government, as I reported earlier, is seeking the highest level of engagement with the Government of China to deal with the matters as best we can through a more scientific and fact-based approach. At this time, the Government of China has not agreed to high-level meetings of experts to review the scientific basis for the claims being made.

Notwithstanding that, the government continues to work both directly and indirectly with stakeholders and other governments who share the concerns of the Government of Canada with respect to the trade relationship with China and, certainly, some of the root causes that are at play here.

Today, the Minister of International Trade Diversification is leading a delegation of Canadian producers and industry members on a mission to Asia to do what we need to do, and that is diversify our export markets to other countries in Asia. We have, with the adoption of the CPTPP, the opportunity, as first movers in this area, to gain marketplace, particularly in Japan, where we have an advantage over our American friends at this time, and that is one that we ought to be pursuing.

With respect to the pork issue, Canadian farmers certainly produce a very high-quality product, and it’s backed in credibility by a very robust inspection system. It is true that swine fever is an issue in China but it is not an issue in Canada. The Government of Canada is making every effort to work with our pork producers and the industry to underscore the importance of the heightened quality assurance that we need to insist on so that there are no claims made with respect to the quality of our product.

We stand behind our pork producers. Our industry is world-leading. There, too, we have provided the Government of China with the assurances of our inspection system to keep the debate on the legitimate and science-based approaches.

Colleagues, this is an opportunity where Canada also needs to add to our diversity agenda in terms of market development and product placement.

Finally, I would like to reference the bilateral political relationship. Colleagues will know that the Government of Canada is very pleased with Chargé d’Affaires Jim Nickel, who is performing an outstanding professional public service role in China.

The press has alerted Canadians, and I mentioned to colleagues here, that Global Affairs Canada has received confirmation from the Embassy of China that the current ambassador from China to Canada will be ending his term at the end of this month. That, too, is an opportunity for reflection on where the political situation and relationship should go from here.