Matthias Brinkmann, the European Union’s ambassador to
Canada, says dairy farmers should stop worrying about an increase of European
cheese imports that’s part of a trade deal nearing completion.
He says Canadians will simply be eating more cheese when
they have the choice of cheeses from Europe.
Canada is widely believed to be willing to grant Europe
increased access to the Canadian cheese market in return for European
concessions for Canadian exporters, including beef and pork farmers.
But there are worries that after four years, the negotiations
may stall out.
In fact, Brinkmann, who is leaving soon, said it may be next
year before a deal is reached.
The Europeans opened negotiations with the United States
this week, diverting attention away from Canada.
The same thing happened to Canadian negotiations with South
Korea when trade talks began with the United States.
They got a deal by 2007. Canada still hasn’t got a deal,
dashing the hopes of Canada’s beef and pork industries.
Brinkmann tried to assuage concerns about the U.S. trade
talks during a news conference in Ottawa, noting that Europe’s chief negotiator
is still in Ottawa negotiating with Steve Verheul, the head honcho of Canada’s
negotiating team and a veteran chief negotiator on agricultural issues.
Canada is still not satisfied with the European offer on
improved access for Canadian beef and the Europeans are pressing Canada to
extend the term of patent protection for pharmaceuticals to the global norm.
That would increase Canada’s health costs at a time when
provinces are pressing hard to reduce spending on health care.
