Pork and politics: Canadians bring trade pitch to Iowa state fair

DES MOINES — Pork is a popular topic at the Iowa State Fair as hungry patrons mow down on barbecue and curious children gaze with wide eyes at the state’s biggest pig. But the 11-day fair in Des Moines has also proven an important opportunity for Canadians to make their case at a time of tumult in the Canada-U.S. “Sometimes you just need to remind people in Iowa that that relationship is really beneficial for them,” said Rick Préjet, chair of Manitoba Pork, at the state fair on Friday.

Préjet and Manitoba Pork general manager Cam Dahl were among a Manitoba-led Canadian delegation to the fair who met with local politicians and industry groups, including the Iowa Pork Producers Association. “We are taking our message directly to where our priority stakeholders are,” said Richard Madan, Manitoba’s senior representative to the United States. “Meeting face-to-face is essential to strengthen relationships, build trust and deepen understanding.” Canada’s Ambassador to the United States Mark Wiseman took park in the traditional pork chop flip — which was successful on the second try — and stood for photos with the Iowa Pork Queen Saturday afternoon.

Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, Minneapolis Consul General Beth Richardson and representatives from Quebec and Alberta also attended. Manitoba Pork has long travelled to the state fair but the stakes are higher this year as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens a new round of hefty tariffs on an array of Canadian products.

Ottawa has revved up negotiations in Washington to find an offramp to the 50 per cent duties set to go into place Wednesday. Manitoba ships more than three-million young pigs to the United States each year and about two million go directly to Iowa. “We’re not pushing those pigs down here.

They’re pulling them from us,” Préjet said. We just kind of come down to just remind everybody the importance of our relationship.” While trade talks in the U.S. Capitol are important, on-the-ground diplomacy at the state level could help garner support for Canada outside the Beltway.

Madan said the delegation strengthened relationships and received honest feedback on critical issues. They met with legislators, regulators, the local mayor and state leaders. They also held meetings with the U.S.