A letter from 140 members of the United States Congress is
urging President Barrack Obama to leave Canada and Japan out of a Trans-Pacific
Partnership trade deal if they continue to refuse access to agriculture
markets.
In Canada’s case, that’s a clear reference to high tariffs
designed to preserve the market for Canadian dairy and poultry farmers and
their marketing boards.
In Japan’s case, it is tariffs that increase whenever
imports surge or domestic prices decline.
The letter warns Obama that “congressional
support for the TPP would be jeopardized” if trade negotiators do not “hold
Japan and Canada to the same high standards as other TPP partners.
“Indeed, we urge you to pursue the TPP
negotiations without any country, including Japan, Canada, or others, that
proves unwilling to open its market in accordance with these high standards,”
the letter says.
The letter was immediately praised by the main
organization representing U.S. hog producers.
