Canada and the United States are at a
temporary standoff in negotiations for the 12-country Trans-Pacific
Partnership.
Canada says it is waiting to see whether
U.S. president Barrack Obama can gain approval for fast-track negotiating
status – i.e. all or nothing as opposed to cherry-picking.
The U.S. says Canada has to make some
significant concessions.
"The question of Canada's
participation in the TPP — I think, really, that's something that's going to be
up to Canada," Catherine Novelli, the U.S. undersecretary of state, told a
media briefing.
"All the other countries are making
very strong commitments, including on agriculture. Agriculture is always
difficult, and we're all going to put on the table commitments. So the question
is: what's the level of ambition that the Canadian government has?
"We would love to have Canada be
part of the agreement ... I think that's a judgment the Canadian government's
going to have to make."
She expressed hope the deal might be
concluded soon, with a negotiating round scheduled in Guam for the last two
weeks of May and a meeting of ministers in the Philippines May 26-28.
