Canada’s minister of agriculture said he would rather get the CPTPP deal right than push its ratification through quickly.
“I don’t believe in fast tracking. I believe in doing it right,” said Lawrence MacAuley while in Calgary March 26.
MacAuley said there are long-term advantages to the deal among the 11 members that includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
“There are things that need to be done to make sure it flows but it is going to put millions of dollars into the pockets of farmers. We have to produce more on the same amount of the land,” he said during an announcement about the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The CAP has promised money for market development.
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A single and aligned check-off collection system based on where producers live makes the system equal said Chad Ross, Saskatchewan Cattle Association chair.
“Are we in all the market now? No, we are just getting going.”
Farm groups are pushing hard for a speedy ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership so Canada is among the first six countries to take advantage of reduced tariffs and enhanced access.
CPTPP comes into effect 60 days after six countries have agreed, giving them the advantage of setting up relationships and business deals. The remainder must wait another 60 days and could be left behind, said John Masswohl, CCA director of government and international relations.
“I think it is doable for Canada to be one of those six,” he said at the CCA annual meeting in Ottawa March 21-23.
“This is probably the most significant trade deal since NAFTA,” said Dennis Laycraft, executive vice-president of the CCA.
It means lower tariffs into lucrative markets like Japan. The CCA needs to develop a Japan strategy because it is the opportunity of a lifetime, potentially giving Canada access to a consolidated market of $4.7 trillion among the CPTPP members, he said.
