Organizations representing hog producers in two prairie provinces have moved beyond the political position of their national organization to embrace a free-trade lobby group that believes supply management tariff protections should be lowered in the interests of a global trade deal.
On Feb. 21, Alberta Pork and Saskatchewan Pork, representing 25 percent of Canadian production, joined the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, announcing that Canada’s official position trying to support both export interests and supply management protections is too cautious on the export file.
The national hog producer group, Canadian Pork Council, remains a member of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture despite flirting last year with CAFTA membership.
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Pork Council executive director Martin Rice said Feb. 20 the CPC considers CFA opposition to any tariff cuts for supply management too rigid but its members are divided and it has decided to stay with CFA while telling the government it supports more aggressive trade action than CFA supports.
In the release announcing prairie hog producer membership, CAFTA said the 1,500 hog producers represented by the Alberta and Saskatchewan organization want a more market access focus in Canadian trade policy.
