Trade mission to Japan to highlight Manitoba pork

Representatives from the Manitoba government and agriculture sector will head to Japan this month to promote pork as part of a trade mission.

Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn and officials from Manitoba Pork will join the Team Canada mission to Japan from June 23 to 26 to promote and grow agri-food exports to the Indo-Pacific region, said a government news release Friday.

In 2025, Manitoba shipped more than $1 billion in sector exports to Japan, an increase of 18 per cent over 2024.

“Manitoba is recognized around the world for producing safe, sustainable and high-quality agricultural products,” said Kostyshyn in the release.

“This mission will help strengthen relationships that support jobs, investment and economic growth while creating new opportunities for Manitoba farmers, processors, innovators and exporters.”

While overseas, Kostyshyn will also acknowledge a recently signed agreement between Canada and Japan on African swine fever that introduced new regional disease-control efforts on outbreaks, providing Manitoba pork producers and processors more “certainty and protection,” said the release.

“We have heard consistently across the region how important our engagement is to building the relationships necessary for future growth,” said Kostyshyn. “Manitoba has so much to offer, and we are helping establish our province as a known and trusted partner in advancing trade and investment in agri-food and other products and services.”

Calling Japan a “valued partner and premier export market” for the sector, the upcoming trip follows previous trade missions to Thailand, Vietnam, China and Hong Kong.

Scott Peters, a Manitoba Pork board member, said in the release his group is thankful for the opportunity to join the mission.

“The efforts of Minister Kostyshyn demonstrate the Manitoba government’s commitment to trade diversification and expansion,” he said, noting the effort “will add jobs in every part of the province.”

—Free Press staff