Wynne voices fears over trade pact
Pacific Rim deal possible threat to the auto industry and agriculture sector
Premier Kathleen Wynne expressed concerns Thursday that a major free-trade deal might damage Ontario’s interests.
Her comments came as top-level officials from Canada and 11 other Pacific Rim countries were negotiating an agreement in Atlanta, Ga. The talks on wide-ranging rules and common standards for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) were meant to overcome sharp disagreements among the12 would-be partners over a handful of trade-related issues.
Wynne said she’s worried the bargaining behind closed doors would produce an agreement that would hurt the auto and agriculture sectors in Ontario.
While details were secret, industry representatives said the sticking points in the talks included lowering trade protection measures for North American auto producers and opening up Canada’s dairy sector to more imports, which would change the long-standing supply marketing system for agriculture.
“We are not exactly sure what all the component parts will be. Our ministers have written some concerns (to the federal government) about the auto parts sector and also agriculture and some of the issues around supply management. I hope some of those concerns will be taken into account,” she told reporters Thursday.
Wynne said her government wants to see reduced trade barriers for exporters, but not at the expense of sectors that are important to the provincial economy, including the $34billion agriculture industry.
The TPP would create a massive free-trade zone stretching from Chile to Japan and would include Canada and the United States.
Altogether, the countries in the TPP talks account for nearly half of global economic output and the federal Conservatives say access to this market would boost the Canadian economy.
“We want markets opened up,” Wynne said.
“We want to be able to take part in markets . . . but, at the same time, we have to recognize that there are industries in Ontario that need some attention.”
She said supply management, such as the milk and egg marketing boards, are important “because managing risk is a huge part of the job (for farmers) . . . what supply management does is provide some predictability and some sustainability in the supply management sector. I am very supportive of it. I hope that the federal government will understand that it is very important, not just in Ontario, but in other parts of the country as well.”
Wynne said Conservative Leader Stephen Harper and his government have a responsibility to understand what parts of the deal could help or hinder Ontario or other provinces.
“I hope that the federal govern- ment understands that as they finalize these talks in Atlanta,” the premier said.
Harper has said supply management will be protected in the TPP talks, but trade experts say Canada will almost certainly have to make some concessions on agriculture imports if a deal is to be reached. The Conservatives have said farmers would be compensated if they prove they are losing money as a result of the TPP.
In addition to stumbling blocks on agriculture and autos, the negotiations have been slowed by disagreements over how long pharmaceutical companies should enjoy exclusive marketing rights on biologics (a class of vaccines), anti-toxins and other cutting-edge drugs.
Both the NDP and Liberals have criticized the Conservative government for not providing more information on what’s at stake in the TPP and vowed to protect the auto and farm sectors in Canada.
Immediately after Friday evening’s French language debate, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair will visit dairy farm and auto parts ridings where he will argue that only he can be trusted to protect the two sectors.
Mulcair will travel to St-Hyacinthe, Que., on Saturday. On Sunday, he will make stops in Ontario in Brantford, Waterloo, Stratford, London, Essex and Sarnia.
Party insiders say Mulcair will argue that dairy farms are part of the cultural identity in Quebec and this speaks to the values in the province.
It will be a tricky pivot, however, because Mulcair is expected to face questions at Friday’s debate about whether women should be able to wear niqabs at citizenship ceremonies, an idea that many in Quebec oppose.
One official said the NDP will make the trade deal an issue of trust by asking whether farmers and workers in the auto part sectors can rely on Harper to look out for their best interests.
Even if Harper dismantles supply management over years and cuts cheques to farmers, he is dismantling a way of life key to the cultural identity of the province, Mulcair will argue.