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last update:Nov 26, 2008
Trade deal pleases Canadian pork producers
"The Canadian Pork Council applauds the Government of
Canada's signing of a free trade agreement with Colombia" said Jurgen
Preugschas, President of the Canadian Pork Council which represents Canada's
9,000 hog producers.
25th largest market
Colombia is currently Canada's 25th
largest market for pork and pork products, accounting for $3 million of sales
for slightly more than 2,000 tonnes over the first eight months of
2008.
However, with the creation of a 5,000 tonne tariff-rate quota and
the elimination of the in-quota tariff over five years, there is important
potential for growth in Canadian pork exports to Colombia. The tariff-rate quota
will increase annually and the in-quota tariff will be eliminated over the first
five years of the agreement's implementation.
The CPC's support for the
completion of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations remains strong
and unequivocal. However, the slower pace of the WTO negotiations has led many
of our competitors - such as the United States and Chile - to pursue bilateral
and regional trade agreements.
Dual-focus
"We cannot
rely on multilateral trade negotiations to offset preferential access obtained
in bilateral trade agreements" added Mr. Preugschas, who operates a hog and
grain enterprise in Mayerthorpe, Alberta. "Without this dual-focus on both
multilateral and bilateral trade agreements, Canada's ability to supply current
export markets, as well as breaking into emerging markets, will be
undermined."
The Canadian Pork Council furthermore is an avid supporter
of current negotiations to liberalise trade with Korea and the Central American
Four (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) countries. The CPC also
encourages trade negotiations with Japan, India and the Dominican
Republic.
Related Website
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Canadian Pork Council
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