- Canadians, led by Manitoba's Richard Madan, brought their trade pitch to the Iowa state fair, emphasizing the importance of face-to-face meetings to strengthen relationships and build trust.
- Prøjet clarified that the pig trade is demand-driven, stating, “We’re not pushing those pigs down here. They’re pulling them from us.”
- Some Iowans, like 33-year-old Kaitlin Becker, are unaware of the trade relationship, admitting, “I’ll be super, super honest, I don’t know a lot about it.”
- Dahl noted strong local support for the trade agreement, stating, “the support from here is incredibly strong for our trade agreement,” and highlighted mutual benefits for producers, processors, and consumers.
- Victoria Riley, 69, expressed disappointment over the deteriorating bilateral relationship, stating, “when people start imposing tariffs nobody wins – we all lose.”
At the Iowa State Fair, Manitoba's Richard Madan highlighted the critical role of face-to-face meetings in fostering trade relationships.
“Meeting face-to-face is essential to strengthen relationships, build trust and deepen understanding,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of direct engagement with stakeholders.
Manitoba exports over three million young pigs to the U.S. annually, with two million of those going directly to Iowa, which is a vital partner in agricultural trade.
“We’re not pushing those pigs down here. They’re pulling them from us,” said Rick Préjet, chair of Manitoba Pork, underscoring the demand for Canadian pork.
In 2025, Canada is projected to be Iowa’s largest customer, with the state exporting US$4.9 billion to Canada, accounting for 30 percent of Iowa’s total exports.
Iowa also imports US$3.2 billion in goods from Canada, primarily agricultural and machinery products, which are crucial for local industries.
“It’s well understood that both of us benefit. Producers benefit, processors benefit and consumers benefit,” said Dahl, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the supply chain.
However, some fair attendees expressed concern over the deteriorating bilateral relationship, with Victoria Riley stating, “when people start imposing tariffs nobody wins — we all lose.”
The ongoing dialogue at the fair aims to reinforce the importance of maintaining strong trade ties between Iowa and Canada.
“Prøjet clarified the pig trade is demand-driven: 'We're not pushing those pigs down here. They're pulling them from us.' Dahl noted strong local support, saying 'both of us benefit,' while some Iowans like Kaitlin Becker admit they don't know much about the relationship.”
