Canadian beef and pork farmers frustrated by an ongoing dispute with Britain over meat exports are calling on members of Parliament to vote against the U.K.’s membership in a major Asia-Pacific trade group.
But the Canadian Cattle Association and the Canadian Pork Council, as well as Canadian meat processors and exporters, say the U.K. does not deserve a place in a bloc dedicated to open trade. They note that under the post-Brexit agreement that replicates the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union, the U.K. in the past two years has exported more than 7,000 tonnes of beef valued at close to $40 million to Canada.
While other markets in the CPTPP are far more valuable than the British market to Canadian beef and pork producers , White said the industry is concerned a precedent is being set.“Whatever the standards or the thresholds are for the U.K. to join the CPTPP, then that is the bar that is set for other countries to join the CPTPP,” White explained.
She went so far as to suggest that Canadian ranchers should consider changing their farming practices if they want access for their beef to the U.K. market.That’s a proposal Phinney, of the Canadian Cattle Association, strongly rejects.