The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) is disappointed the Government of Canada has accepted restrictions on access to products in the Comprehensive and Progressive agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) put forward by the United Kingdom as part of the terms for it to join the deal.
Rene Roy, pork producer from Quebec and chair of the Canadian Pork Council, says the UK is relying on misinformation and spreading misleading statements on Canada’s pork industry as a non-tariff trade barrier.
“[The UK is] providing some non-tariff trade barriers, which blocks our entry to their markets, in fact, even if there is some market access on paper, it’s not allowed in practice because of non-tariff trade barriers,” Roy says.
Similar to the beef industry’s concern with the deal, Roy says the UK is refusing full access to its market over one small point. In pork’s case, it’s over a false assumption that growth hormones are used in Canadian pork.
Roy says this misinformation is damaging to Canada’s pork industry as it’s misleading for other trade partners, as well.
“There is a good potential for our industry to meet the demand in the UK. That’s more a matter of having market access that is reliable… it’s clear that we could be competitive in their market,” Roy says.
A CPTPP working group is still finalizing the details and timeline on the process before the UK can formally join the deal. It would require ratification by Canadian Parliament.
Listen on to the full interview and discussion with Rene Roy and RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney, below:
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