First of all, thank you for your kind words.
With respect to CETA, you're quite right. In terms of lobster, we were faced with a 25% tariff. Whether transformed or frozen, it came down to zero over three years. You can see that this is really making a difference in the lives of families, workers, and fishers.
Some of the Mercosur countries are big exporters of fish and seafood. I think the reduction of tariffs should allow them to gain access to a market that today is not really accessible, to come back to Mr. Blaikie's comment. Every time you reduce tariffs and try to make Canada more competitive, you provide an opportunity. That's what we've done in Europe. That's what we're doing in Asia-Pacific. That's what we're doing in South America. I can say in front of this committee that we'll always look for opportunities to expand markets.
I keep coming back to this. If you're 0.5% of the world population and 2.5% of global trade, you need open markets. That's why, at the WTO this week, we were leaders. To your point, Mr. Blaikie, Canada was a leader in talking about reform and modernization of the world trade order. We depend on open markets for our current and future prosperity. I think we have the wherewithal. We have the civil service. We have all the experts needed to do all these negotiations at the same time and make sure we open markets.
With respect to fish and seafood, I think you will see positive news coming. The officials were telling me that the tariff we're facing currently is about 16%. So you start saying that if we can reduce or eliminate these tariffs, somehow we will become competitive. To Mr. Blaikie's point, you see that in the CETA on the fishery sector in Atlantic Canada. I think you know that better than I do, Darrell. It's really making a difference in the lives of families in this season and for the future.