Federal Trade Minister Ed Fast has been in discussions with farm business leaders in western Canada to discuss how to promote Canada's exports around the world.

He said agricultural exports are an important part, adding the food processing industry is arguably the largest industry in the country.

"Seven per cent of Canada's GDP is driven by what happens in agriculture and agri-food," said Fast. "This is very important for Canada's long term prosperity. We want to make sure that our producers and our processors have the ability to sell their products into markets all around the world."

He says Canadian products are among the best products in the world that money can buy, and they want to do what they can to remove barriers to international trade.

Fast attended the Farm Progress Show held in Regina last month.