TPP Joint Ag Statement

Agricultural and Agri-Food Producers Call for an Ambitious, Fair, and Comprehensive Agreement through the Trans-Pacific Partnership Guam, MAY 19, 2015 – As Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) nations meet this week in Guam to continue
negotiations, agri-food producer and processor organisations from Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand remain united in their call for a modern trade agreement that includes meaningful and comprehensivemarket access opportunities for agriculture and agri-food.
The organisations advocating for an ambitious, fair and comprehensive TPP agreement are the Canadian AgriFood
Trade Alliance, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the
Australian National Farmers’ Federation, and the Federated
Farmers of New Zealand. Together, they represent hundreds
of thousands of farmers, producers, processors and exporters
who, in turn, employ millions of workers across the TPP region.
“Our agricultural sectors and the jobs they provide depend on
a thriving network of export markets,” said Brian Innes, President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance.
“By creating stable and open market access, the TPP’s potential to stimulate economic growth is incredible. A comprehensive agreement would encourage regional supply
chains with production and processing occurring where competitive advantages exist. However, without a plurilateral
agreement, the TPP could actually reduce market access
for agri-food exporters. It would be very negative if some TPP
countries provide preferential market access to select countries
and not others.”
Despite the fact that agriculture is traditionally regarded as a sensitive subject in trade talks, negotiators must uphold a high
level of ambition in order to realize the TPP’s broader objectives of opening up trade throughout one of the world’s
key economic centres.
“Australian farmers are of the view that this agreement must
deliver significant outcomes across the sector and thus across
the economy. Agriculture has always been a strong supporter
of trade and the benefits it brings across the broader community and the TPP must be seen in that light” National
Farmers Federation President Mr Brent Finlay said.
The TPP region represents 792 million consumers and
40 per cent of world trade while also maintaining a coveted status as an integral part of global value chains. In fact, trade
among TPP partners equalled over $2 trillion in 2012. While
this number is considerable, the Canadian Agri-Food Trade
Alliance, the Australian National Farmers’ Federation, the
American Farm Bureau and the Federated Farmers of New
Zealand will continue to call for the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers that currently exist among the member countries in order to increase the value of this trade market through additional sales of agricultural products.
“New Zealand farmers have always strongly supported the benefits of free trade, which include improved market
access and reduce trade barriers for our exports,” added Dr William Rolleston, president of Federated Farmers of
New Zealand.
“Our members strongly encourage TPP negotiators to reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers in this agreement and
eliminate export subsidies and other policies that distort markets. These barriers to exports reduce the ability of
countries, including our own, to trade.”
As negotiations proceed, all signs point to an imminent agreement with a broader range of benefits than any
before it. However, the importance of a beneficial deal for agriculture and agri-food exporters should not be
underestimated. This type of deal can only come through agreed-upon terms that liberalise trade throughout the
TPP region and deliver competitive, transparent, plurilateral, non-discriminatory access.
“The TPP will only fulfill its promise of improved and increased trade in the Pacific region when it eliminates any
barriers to trade, including tariff and non-tariff trade barriers,” said Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm
Bureau Federation. “U.S. agriculture has high expectations for the TPP, and we are calling on all countries
involved to commit to a better agreement and freer trade worldwide.”
For further information, contact:
Claire Citeau
Executive Director
Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA)
cciteau@cafta.org
Tony Mahar
Deputy Chief Executive
National Farmers’ Federation of Australia
tmahar@nff.org.au
Dr Paul Le Miere
General Manager Policy and Advocacy
Federated Farmers of New Zealand
plemiere@fedfarm.org.nz
Will Rodger
Director of Policy Communications
American Farm Bureau Federation
willr@fb.org