Producers are applauding Canada’s membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP), says Jeff Nielsen, area farmer and president of the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC).
“Today is a great day for grain farmers,” Nielsen said in a news release, noting that the agreement will lower barriers and introduce new rules to facilitate the trade in grains, which he said should help get more Canadian products into Asian markets.
“Canadian grain farmers will also benefit from increased demand from the livestock sector because of the improved access beef and pork farmers receive in the agreement,” he said.
The CPTTP Bill 79 passed in the Senate last week, after Canada signed the partnership in March.
Markus Haerle, vice-president of the GGC, echoed Nielsen’s comments.
“Farmers across the country win with the CPTPP,” said Haerle, noting producers across Canada will benefit from the increased market access.
Other producer groups are also applauding ratification of the agreement.
The Alberta Barley chairman Jason Lenz and Alberta Wheat Commission chairman Kevin Bender both said the agreement is a win for local and national producers.
“The CPTPP not only levels the playing field with our major competitors but also provides opportunity for better returns for farmers,” said Bender.
The CPTPP zone market contains more than 500 million people.
Meanwhile, grain farmers want to see the federal government "provide additional relief from the federal carbon pollution backstop given the impact it will have on their ability to compete in markets at home and around the world,” said Nielsen.
“The carbon price will add costs to farm inputs and to transporting our grains to market making it more expensive to be a grain farmer in Canada compared to our key competitors around the world.
“Providing additional relief will not impact growers’ commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Growers are already doing that, and they will continue to work hard to grow more, with less.”
