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Pork Group Tells Government TPP Participation Critical

The Canadian Pork Council has sent an open letter as part of the federal government's Trans Pacific Partnership consultations.

The letter was addressed to Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAuley and International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland.

It points out the Council has been a staunch supporter of Canada's participation in the TPP negotiations.

The letter says about 80 per cent of the pork exported from Canada last year went to current TPP partners.

The Council suggests being part of the deal preserves Canada's ability to export to Japan, a billion dollar market for Canadian pork, on equal terms with the U-S and other TPP country competitors.

The deal is also seen as giving Canadian producers improved terms of access to other TPP countries, including Viet Nam.

And the CPC says there's also the potential to eliminate the remaining Korean tariffs on Canadian pork if Korea seeks entry into the TPP.

The letter points out Canadian producers have experience at being at a competitive disadvantage following other countries' trade deals - citing the U-S and E-U free trade deals with South Korea three years ahead of Canada's.

The Canadian Pork Council is a federation of nine provincial pork industry associations serving as the national voice for Canada's hog producers.

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