As a result, the importance of exports to the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector should be addressed in future environmental sustainability initiatives. The sector must, therefore, increase its understanding of how trade and environment are related. While international trade represents a driving force in the national economy, the internal consumption of domestic production should not be overlooked. The domestic market is an important component of future opportunities for the agriculture and agri-food sector, particularly in the area of industrial uses.
Governments are committed both to trade liberalization and to promoting sustainable development.
Achieving these objectives simultaneously raises a number of challenges for the agriculture and agri-food sector. The sector needs to effectively address the marketing and trade challenges to remain competitive and further increase exports. The WTO agreement protects the right of Canadians to choose the level of environmental protection that is appropriate for Canada. The WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade provides for the adoption and application of standards-related measures deemed necessary for the achievement of a country's chosen level of environmental protection. The agreement requires that these measures, when applied to imports, are not applied with a view to creating unnecessary obstacles to international trade.