Brian Innes, President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) today issued the following statement after completion of Canada’s domestic and international processes to ratify the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
“Agri-food exporters, farmers and food manufacturers applaud the federal government’s swift ratification of the CPTPP and notification to New Zealand, the CPTPP Secretariat, that Canada’s processes to bring the agreement into force are complete.
“Today we are making history. We’re taking a confident step forward to diversify our trade and seize opportunity in dynamic Asia-Pacific markets. Securing preferential access to markets like Japan will fire up the agri-food sector’s engine and bring prosperity to Canadians across the country. Agri-food exporters stand ready to use this preferential access the day this agreement is implemented.
“As one of the first six countries to ratify the CPTPP, agri-food exporters will have a headstart over competitors as soon as the agreement is implemented and the first round of tariff cuts happens. Once all tariff cuts are complete, the agreement will enable agri-food exporters to increase our exports by up to $2 billion annually. This will create jobs and generate significant benefits across Canada, moving us toward the government’s ambitious target of $75 billion in agri-food exports by 2025.
Agri-food exporters contribute over $95 billion to the Canadian economy annually and the food and beverage sector is the largest manufacturing employer in Canada sustaining nearly a quarter of a million jobs, more than the automotive and aerospace sectors combined.
“As one of the first six, Canada is well positioned to welcome new entrants like the U.S., South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines. The CPTPP was built to grow; we should continue to promote rules-based trade and work to bring others into this landmark agreement.
“We thank Minister Carr for his clear commitment to diversifying Canada’s trade portfolio. Today’s success stands on the work of several previous Ministers and numerous dedicated public servants. We look forward to working with the Canadian government to implement this agreement and ensure agri-food exporters and food manufacturers continue to expand and succeed across the Asia-Pacific.”
CAFTA is the voice of Canada’s agri-food exporters, representing the 90% of farmers who depend on trade and the ranchers, producers, food manufacturers and agri-food exporters who want to grow the economy through better access to international markets. This includes the beef, pork, meat, grains, cereals, pulses, soybeans, canola as well as the sugar, malt, and processed food industries. The sectors CAFTA represents support over a million jobs in urban and rural communities across Canada.