The Pacific Alliance, a pro-trade group comprised of representatives from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, invited member countries and signatories of the TPP to the dialogue along with representatives of South Korea and China. In addition to being a signatory of the TPP, Canada achieved observer country status with the Pacific Alliance in 2012.
Champagne represented Canada at the meeting while Masswohl travelled to Chile to emphasize the importance of the TPP and international market access to the livelihood of Canadian beef producers. Masswohl had the opportunity to interact with Minister Champagne and other members of the Canadian delegation as well as compare views with representatives from other countries.
Signed by 12 countries in February 2016, the TPP represented a new era of multi-lateral trade that could bring together consumers and producers from a diverse section of Pacific-Rim cultures and nations by establishing a stronger relationship based on sound science and market demand. Most importantly, TPP set a new and high-level precedent for market access for the trade in beef and will serve as an example for other countries to follow.
“What is paramount for me as international trade minister is to make sure that Canadian producers, consumers and workers have preferential market access to the very important economies in Asia Pacific”
Since the United States withdrew from the TPP in January, the concern has been whether the hard-won benefits of the TPP could be salvaged. When the Chile meeting was announced, the CCA was encouraged that it would provide an opportunity for the 11 remaining TPP countries to discuss options for continuing the process of liberalized trade so that each of our economies can grow. The dialogue was successful in that the 11 confirmed that they are strongly committed to proceeding and instructed their negotiators to meet to find a path forward with respect to implementation of substantive elements of the TPP Agreement.
Minister Champagne later stated that, “What is paramount for me as international trade minister is to make sure that Canadian producers, consumers and workers have preferential market access to the very important economies in Asia Pacific.”
The CCA supports this progress as a strong signal that the substance of the TPP in some form remains very much in play and congratulated International Trade Minister Champagne for leading the discussion in Chile towards this outcome. The CCA will continue to work with the Government of Canada and allies abroad to support their efforts to bring the TPP substance into effect.
Source: Meatbusiness