Modified TPP Offers Opportunity to Maintain and Expand Pacific Market

The Canadian Meat Council says a modified Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement offers tremdous potential for growth in Canada’s red meat exports

By Bruce Cochrane – FarmScape Online

Marcus Mattinson, the Communications Manager with the Canadian Meat Council, says the Pacific market is very significant for Canada’s red meat industry and its critical to maintain access to that market, particularly Japan.

“We’re talking about 500 million dollars in projected export increases in Japan alone”

 

“This is what’s on the table right now,” Mattinson told FarmScape Online. “We have 11 countries so we’re calling it TPP 11, but truth is there’s no real formal name for it yet but we have a great block of trading partners in the Pacific.”

Representatives of 11 of the 12 original Trans-Pacific Partnership member nations have been working to salvage an agreement since the United States withdrew in January.

“What’s really important to remember, at least for Canada, is that we have a significant opportunity in the Pacific market because we’re talking about 500 million dollars in projected export increases in Japan alone,” he added. “That’s something this deal could add to Canada’s existing trade with the Pacific.”

Earlier this month negotiators meeting in Vietnam reached agreement on the core elements of a deal.

“Obviously we have communicated this to the government and we are very interested in following this story as it develops but it is a significant market and we are very excited to see whether Canada will pursue it.”

Mattinson says we don’t want to lose our competitive advantage against other trading markets, the EU being one example, so timing is key.
He says we want to see this deal done as soon as possible so we can get to work and start offering our products to this emerging market.

“That’s what’s important, that’s what we’re focused on.”

By Bruce Cochrane – FarmScape Online