Lack of progress on reaching an agreement with Canada on new guidelines for agricultural trade has frustrated the US to the point that negotiators are considering moving ahead without Canada.
One observer explained that Canada is not moving forward to find a way to lower its barriers to agricultural trade in the context of creating an historic 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
US Senators meeting with the US Trade Representative Michael Froman asked him to try to “move forward on TPP without Canada unless a serious offer on dairy, poultry, and agriculture market access” is offered.
Froman responded that his first choice is to keep Canada in the agreement, but the US is “preparing for all contingencies.”
Max Moncaster, spokesman for the Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast said:
“We continue to work with all TPP partners to conclude an ambitious agreement that will create jobs and prosperity for Canadians.” He added that Canada will “continue to promote and defend Canadian trade interests across all sectors of our economy, including supply management.”
President Obama is hoping that negotiations during the next few weeks will result in a huge trade deal including 40 percent of the world’s entire economy, from Japan to Chile. The deal should be ready to be agreed to and finalized when TPP trade ministers come together at an historic meeting in Hawaii on July 28-31.
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