Market access is maintained through sustained relationships, strategic advocacy, and the ability to respond quickly when conditions change. In 2025–26, Pulse Canada was active on multiple fronts — defending a critical market that closed overnight, building new partnerships at a pivotal diplomatic moment, supporting the rules-based trading framework that underpins North American agriculture, and advancing Canada’s position in emerging and evolving markets around the world.
When China imposed a 100 per cent tariff on Canadian peas in March 2025, the impact was immediate. Market movement slowed, bids weakened, and one of Canada’s most important pea markets effectively closed overnight.
Pulse Canada responded quickly and stayed engaged. Staff were on the ground in China within 10 days of the tariff announcement and maintained an active in-market presence throughout 2025 — meeting with buyers, processors, and government officials while working closely with the Government of Canada to keep pulses central to bilateral discussions. By late 2025, the commercial reality was becoming clear: Chinese inventories were running low, and product from alternative origins was not meeting expectations on cost, quality, or performance. Canadian peas remained the preferred option for Chinese fractionators and end users.
In January 2026, China announced it would remove the 100 per cent tariff on Canadian peas, effective March 1, 2026 — reopening a market that had accounted for nearly $4 billion in Canadian pea exports between 2019 and 2025. The work continues. Pulse Canada’s focus now turns to securing permanent tariff removal and ensuring Canada’s position as China’s preferred supplier is protected for the long term.
From March 1–5, 2026, Pulse Canada led a delegation to India alongside representatives from Alberta Pulse Growers, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, and the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association. The timing was significant. Canada and India had just announced the launch of negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and the visit also saw the creation of a Canada–India Pulse Protein Centre of Excellence — two signals of renewed bilateral engagement.
The delegation met with a wide range of stakeholders, from government officials and policy advisors to traders, millers, and food companies. A consistent message came through: Canada is viewed as a reliable, long-term partner. While India continues efforts to grow domestic production, stakeholders confirmed that imported pulses will remain necessary — limited land, variable weather, and a growing population mean India typically holds only a few months of pulse supply at any given time.
Opportunities are also expanding beyond bulk exports, with growing urban demand for processed and fortified foods opening new avenues for Canadian pulses and ingredients. Pulse Canada will continue building on these relationships as CEPA negotiations advance.
North America remains a stable and essential market for Canadian pulses, underpinned by the continued tariff-free treatment of agricultural goods under CUSMA — a framework that anchors predictable, rules-based trade across the region.
In 2025–26, Pulse Canada played a leadership role through the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), helping to coordinate cross-sector advocacy with U.S. policymakers at a critical time for the agreement. This included advocacy fly-ins to Washington, D.C. in April and November 2025, bringing together Canadian agriculture leaders to reinforce the importance of integrated North American supply chains and maintaining open, science-based trade.
With attention turning to the upcoming CUSMA review and evolving U.S. political dynamics, this early and sustained engagement has helped position Canadian agriculture as a sector with a significant and proven stake in the agreement. Maintaining existing tariff-free treatment of agri-food trade will be critical to reducing the risk of new barriers and ensuring continued stability in one of Canada’s most important export markets.
Mexico continues to be an important and growing market for Canadian pulses, with ongoing efforts focused on improving efficiency and reducing administrative barriers to trade.
A key milestone in 2025–26 was the launch of the electronic phytosanitary certificate (ePhyto) program — a long-standing Pulse Canada priority. After years of advocacy with government and industry partners in both Canada and Mexico, the implementation of ePhyto marks a significant step forward in modernizing trade processes. The transition from paper-based to digital certification improves the speed, reliability, and transparency of shipments, reducing the risk of delays and documentation issues at the border. This advancement supports more efficient market access for Canadian exporters, strengthens supply chain predictability, and reinforces Mexico as a dependable destination for Canadian pulses.
The Indo-Pacific remains a key region for long-term market growth and diversification. In 2025–26, Pulse Canada advanced engagement across the region with a focus on strengthening relationships, raising the profile of Canadian pulses, and addressing market access and regulatory challenges.
A highlight of the year was participation in a Government of Canada-led mission to the Indo-Pacific in July and August 2025, alongside the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Pulse Canada also participated in the Canada in Asia Conference (CIAC) in February 2026, and partnered with Cereals Canada and the Canola Council of Canada to deliver Grain Industry Day — creating a platform to engage customers and partners, showcase Canadian supply, and advance discussions on trade, sustainability, and market access.
The European Union remains a complex but high-potential market for Canadian pulses, with evolving regulatory requirements shaping access for exporters. In 2025–26, Pulse Canada focused on strengthening relationships and advancing practical, science-based approaches to trade.
Pulse Canada’s 2025 mission to the EU enabled direct engagement with policymakers, industry partners, and regulators. Targeted advocacy on the EU’s Omnibus proposal focused on maximum residue limit (MRL) policies — emphasizing the importance of predictable, science-based MRL frameworks and raising concerns around potential misalignment between EU requirements and international standards. Through these efforts, Pulse Canada has built awareness of the Canadian pulse sector within EU policymaking circles and positioned industry priorities early in the development of new regulatory frameworks.