Canada has been invited to join the Trans-Pacific
Partnership trade talks.
The invitation was greeted with applause from the Canadian
Cattlemen’s Association and the Canadian Meat Council. Both said it will
improve export opportunities.
Supply management for dairy and poultry farmers has been a
contentious issue because New Zealand and the United States insisted Canada
must be willing to make concessions.
Industry Minister Christian Paradis told reporters before
question period today that "we always said that we stand by supply
management."
In the House of Commons, Gerald Keddy, parliamentary secretary
to the trade minister, said during question period "we did not give away
anything to get to the table."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who made the announcement
in Mexico where he is attending a G-20 meeting, said nothing about supply
management – whether it is on the negotiating agenda or whether he’s going to
refuse to make concessions on it.
Negotiators worked hard behind the scenes, mainly to
convince the United States, to get an invitation. Mexico was invited in on
Monday, but apparently the negotiators needed to deal with some more issues to
get Canada’s invitation.
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association noted that whether or
not Japan gets in invitation, it’s good news that the two recently agreed to
direct trade negotiaions.
Harper’s team is also working to reduce trade barriers
with India and China.
The Canadian Meat Council noted that 10 of the 11
countries now involved in the TPP negotiations are customers buying Canadian
meat.
