MPs passed Bill C-79’s second reading on Tuesday
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
The organization representing many Canadian ag manufacturers is pleased to see an important trade agreement move forward in Parliament.
The Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada (AMC), which represents about 300 industry organizations, applauded the House of Commons for passing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Implementation Act (Bill C-79) through its second reading on Tuesday.
“This represents a huge opportunity for Canadian farmers and agricultural equipment manufacturers,” Richelle Andreas, chair of AMC’s board of directors, said in a statement today. “Shortline manufacturers help keep rural economies strong, employing approximately 12,000 people primarily in communities (of) less than 10,000 (people).
“AMC fully supports the quick implementation of the CPTPP to strengthen trade with key international markets and increase export opportunity within the industry.”
Out of 290 votes, 242 MPs voted in favour of the bill and agreed to refer it to the Standing Committee on International Trade.
Implementing CPTPP would result in lower tariffs for Canadian ag equipment exports.
Ag equipment currently faces 5 per cent import tariffs in Australia, up to 30 per cent import duties from Malaysia, tariffs of up to 20 per cent from Vietnam and 5 per cent from New Zealand.
A ratified CPTPP would fully eliminate those tariffs, the federal government says.
The trade agreement represents crucial export opportunities.
The 10 other countries included in the CPTPP have a population of about 500 million people and make up about 13.5 per cent of the global GDP.
Becoming a participant in the CPTPP shows other nations that Canada is open to trade.
“Mr. Speaker, this is not just a new trade agreement for Canada, this is a signal to the world that trade matters, that rules matter, and that we will not be drawn into the world of protectionism,” Jim Carr, minister of international trade diversification, said in the House of Commons Monday.
“As a middle power, we cannot afford the status quo and we cannot afford to wait for the world to come to us.”