Thank you.
I apologize upfront that I speak extremely quickly, but everything is written down in case you need it.
Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the TPP consultation process.
Here's a bit of background about the B.C. Agriculture Council. We are the province's umbrella farm group, so commodities such as blueberries, strawberries, and dairy all belong to the BCAC as its umbrella group. We're a council of commodity groups and through our members we represent 14,000 of the 20,000 B.C. farm families who in turn generate 96% of the farm-gate receipts in British Columbia. Agriculture is the third largest resource sector in the province, playing a significant and important role in the overall provincial economy.
The farmers represented by BCAC include those focused on international export opportunities, as well as those focused on supplying the domestic market. We understand that trade is a complicated discussion, especially as it pertains to agriculture. Our hope is that Canada will continue applying a balanced approach to agricultural trade negotiations. BCAC fully supports Canada's pursuit of bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements. We are also pleased with the assurances made by the federal government to continue supporting supply-managed commodities and defending our supply management systems in trade negotiations.
Primary agriculture differs from other industrial sectors. Individual farmers, not large integrated corporations, are the main drivers of this industry. We overcome diverse challenges to produce high-quality food for both domestic and international customers in a financially and environmentally sustainable manner.
A lot of my points today will be echoed by the CFA, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, but I'd just like to point out a few that pertain to British Columbia.
On basic trade policy goals, the BCAC supports the following general trade policy goals that apply to the TPP: working towards bilateral and regional trade agreements that strengthen trade ties with key customers for Canadian agriculture; securing outcomes that benefit all Canadian agriculture by maximizing export opportunities and ensuring trade rules that allow for the maintenance of an effective supply management system; eliminating all dumping and export subsidies in agriculture; preserving farmers' rights and government's ability to enable, design, and operate marketing boards and orderly marketing systems necessary for the stability and profitability of Canadian agriculture; and allowing for domestic programs to ensure the stability and profitability of Canadian agriculture. I believe our safety net programs often come up on the table during these discussions, so we'd like those to be protected.
We also support recognizing that agriculture has evolved differently between countries, resulting in each country having its own unique sensitivities; and ensuring that one commodity is not traded off to enhance the interests of another commodity, nor that agriculture is traded off in general for another industry sector. We get enough of that at home, so we don't want to see it internationally.
Trade negotiation strategy is of course what our negotiators are going to be developing, but one thing to remember in Canada is that we're not the only country with sensitivities. Some of these examples, as you have found out recently and have been dealing with, are the U.S. position on sugar, dairy, textiles, and other commodities; and New Zealand's strict sanitary and phytosanitary measures that restrict access, including for the importation of fresh and frozen pork and poultry, essentially making these products prohibited. New Zealand has also made it clear it will not permit TPP disciplines on intellectual property that interfere with its pharmacare program.
One issue we do have, especially with our organic producers, is reciprocal standards. It's not just organic, but it's how we define and how we standardize here in Canada that we would like respected. Canadian commodity groups have implemented numerous on-farm certification programs related to food safety, animal welfare, environmental measures, etc., to address regulatory requirements. As these gate-to-plate programs increase the cost of doing business, Canada must ensure that in assessing equivalency, imports are produced under equivalent certification programs and regulatory requirements.
One thing that we're also looking for in agriculture, for those of us who do a lot of direct marketing, is to have that marketing structure—I keep using the term respected, but not lost in the negotiations. There are a lot of different ways people sell all over the world...to actually not have any of that restricted. I know there will be a question coming on that, which Deb will answer.
I'm not sure if anyone has brought up a dispute settlement mechanism. We do have some domestically, but I don't think we have any internationally at the moment. That's very important. It will be an integral component to any well-functioning trade system. BCAC supports a more effective and transparent dispute settlement process that ensures a timely outcome and payment.
As exporters we've run into non-tariff barriers in agriculture for decades. Something may not be written down, but something is underlying, especially for organic and for greenhouse. Again, it goes back to proper labelling. The greenhouse sector right now is fighting with the term “greenhouse growing” for peppers and tomatoes because in some countries they're just putting shade cloth over top, field growing them, and then calling them greenhouse and asking for the additional premium.
The proper labelling standards, including the labelling of country of origin, help ensure that consumers are provided with sound, factual information about the product they are purchasing. However, such labelling should not be disguised as a means to modify the conditions of competition between imported and domestically produced products.
I believe Mr. Woo also covered intellectual property rights in his presentation. We're also looking for trade and labour standards. Trade agreements must incorporate the recognition of basic human rights and labour standards as integral to the social fabric and economic development of a nation.
In conclusion, the B.C. Agriculture Council supports Canada's pursuit of trade agreements that benefit all Canadian agriculture, maximize export opportunities, and allow for maintenance of an effective supply management system.
We're looking forward to some questions.
Thank you.
