Canadian farm groups are urging a speedy ratification of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade deal.
The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, in partnership with other groups, called for “swift efforts” to ratify and implement the deal.
“After three years of uncertainty, it’s time to restore long-term predictability to North American supply chains,” said a release from the four organizations, which included the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. “We call on members of Parliament and senators from all parties to make the ratification and implementation of CUSMA a top priority. Above all else, the agreement restores much needed certainty to our most important trade and investment relationship.”
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Jeff Nielsen, chair of Grain Growers of Canada, said the deal offers needed stability.
“On the grain sector, it’s not a lot of major changes are done there but it just ensures that we still have the great access to the U.S. and Mexico and their producers have access to Canadian markets as well,” he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed the trade pact into law on Jan. 29, meaning Canada is the last of the three countries involved to formally ratify the agreement.
The legislation to do just that was introduced into the House of Commons on the same day. It requires three readings, debate in the Senate and the House’s trade committee before it goes for royal assent.
Once that happens, under terms of the deal, roughly three more months are required to pass before USMCA officially comes into force. Given the Liberal government’s minority status, it will need the support of other parties in Parliament to make that happen.
Conservative agriculture critic John Barlow said his party will not rush through the deal.
“This is something I think many of our stakeholders want to see get passed, but I also think that it’s our obligation as elected officials to analyze this legislation that’s been brought forth to the House of Commons,” he said.
“There’s no question that we want to support free trade. However, we have very little information on how this will impact our stakeholders.”
Despite continued opposition from the Bloc Quebecois, who cite concerns over the deal’s impact on Quebec’s aluminum industry, the legislation is expected to pass with no major delay.
