Canada’s hog and meat packing sectors are pleading with the Conservative government to relaunch stalled free trade talks with South Korea.
Talks started in 2004 and ended in March 2008 after 13 sessions.
The government has been under pressure from some sectors to not rush a deal that does not meet their needs.
Automobile manufacturers and the beef industry oppose a deal with South Korea without deeper concessions.
The beef industry has not had access to the Korean market since BSE was found in Canada in 2003.
Representatives of the Canadian Pork Council, Canadian Meat Council and Canada Pork International held a Parliament Hill news conference today to release an open letter to prime minister Stephen Harper.
They say the industry is in danger of losing a $100 million Korean market.
Competitors such as the United States, Chile and the European Union have or are in the process of getting trade deals with Korea, which gives them an access advantage.
CPC executive director Martin Rice said it is already undermining Canada’s position as Korea’s second largest pork supplier because Korean buyers have started to favour sellers in countries that have signed trade deals.
He said the result is that the hog industry will not be able to cash in on an expected boom in Korean demand.
“As one of Korea’s top two pork suppliers over the past decade and with population growth and declining pig production in Korea, we could very reasonably expect to see our exports of pork to Korea more than quadruple in the next 10 years to half a billion dollars,” he said.
The letter to Harper suggested that he order negotiators back to the table to negotiate a deal in sectors where a deal is possible.
“The problem areas for Canadian industries could be carved out and set aside for further discussion and negotiations within the context of the ministerial consultation mechanisms of a Canada-Korea FTA.”
The industry insisted fast action is needed.
“Perhaps the automotive industry has time to wait,” said the letter. “We do not. Our third biggest export market is at risk. We do not need more process, we need action.”
Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz issued a statement that said the government is working to resolve outstanding issues with Korea “so that our beef and pork producers have both timely and profitable access to the Korean market.”
He said Harper considers the free trade deal an important enough file that he has raised it personally with Korean leaders.
