Province wants to see the fine print on landmark Pacific trade deal
Alberta’s NDP government says it likes the idea of expanded trade but wants more details about the landmark Trans- Pacific Partnership announced Monday.
The 12- country agreement, which includes the U. S. and Canada, reduces or eliminates barriers in a wide range of sectors and has been hailed by the agriculture industry in Alberta for the prospect of increased exports of pork, beef, canola and other commodities.
Other sectors that could see a boost from increased trade opportunities include industrial goods, wood and forestry products.
“Alberta, as everyone knows, is a trade- focused province and we support responsible growth of trade opportunities for our export sectors in this province,” NDP Finance Minister Joe Ceci said Monday. “But this is a wideranging agreement and really, we need to see the full details ... before I can know what the overall consequences are for Albertans.”
The TPP includes North America, Chile, Peru, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, New Zealand and Australia. The pact has been controversial for its potential impact on the dairy and auto sectors.
The deal lands with two weeks to go before voters cast their ballots in the Oct. 19 federal election and, with Stephen Harper’s Conservatives touting the agreement, it is likely to be a significant issue.
That could mean a delicate political situation for the provincial NDP government, as Tom Mulcair’s federal NDP has come out swinging against TPP. The Liberals have said they want more information before taking a position.
The Alberta Federation of Labour is raising concerns, saying jobs could be lost.
“It’s been done under this veil of secrecy,” said AFL secretary- treasurer Siobhan Vipond. “It’s a little bit cynical and dishonest to play politics and sell out the best interests of Canadians in the middle of an election.”
Organizations such as the Alberta Wheat Commission, Canadian Pork Council and Canadian Cattlemen’s Association came out Monday offering their full support for the new trade agreement.
Dave Solverson, president of the Cattlemen’s Association, said he hopes the province will fully support the deal.
Solverson said the reduction of Japan’s current 38.5 per cent tariff on Canadian beef to nine per cent over 15 years — including an immediate cut to 27.5 per cent when the deal comes into force — is the major prize of the deal, along with access to Malaysia and Vietnam.
“If they have competitive, meaningful access to the populous countries of the world, it sets us up really well to sustain our industry and grow it,” he said.
The Canada West Foundation’s Carlo Dade said agriculture producers will benefit the most.
The deal will provide new opportunities for Alberta companies in areas such as bioscience, engineering, and energy industry services, said Dade, director of the think- tank’s Centre for Trade and Investment Policy.
University of Calgary political scientist Melanee Thomas believes the trade deal is unlikely to be a defining issue of the federal election campaign.
She said it makes sense for the provincial NDP government to take a cautious approach toward TPP, both because the agreement is outside of its jurisdiction and because there are still unanswered questions about the deal’s full implications.
“Everything is sensitive for the provincial NDP government, just because it’s new,” said Thomas.