Hello, Mr. Chair, honourable members of the committee.
My name is Simon Trépanier and I am the chief executive officer of the Fédération des producteurs acéricoles du Québec. With me is Serge Beaulieu, our president. We have a short presentation so I will read it out. It summarizes our position on developments relating to the TPP.
The elimination of tariffs is desirable for maple syrup products from Quebec and Canada. The Fédération des producteurs acéricoles du Québec has responded favourably to the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which will eliminate tariffs on exports of maple syrup products and other maple products to signatory countries.
Canada is the world leader in maple syrup exports. Japan is the second largest importer of Canadian maple syrup products, after the United States, which is the second largest market.
From 2012 to 2015, Quebec exported an average of $200 million in maple syrup products to TPP signatory countries. They are an important market for maple syrup products from Canada and Quebec. The Fédération had long called upon federal authorities to eliminate tariffs since they restrict export volumes.
For Japan, for instance, customs duties are over 17%. They will be eliminated in the medium term. For Vietnam, customs duties are 3%, and they too will be eliminated when the agreement comes into effect. In our opinion, the agreement will enable maple syrup and maple sugar producers in Canada to exploit the tremendous potential of these markets. Moreover, Quebec and Canada will remain the leaders in this sector. Let us recall that 90% of Canada's maple syrup products come from and are processed in Quebec. This province will certainly derive the greatest direct benefit from the signing of the agreement.
I would like to briefly mention the federal government's support for the maple syrup industry through the AgriMarketing program, which allows us to make targeted investments in marketing and product development in a number of countries, including Japan, which is the second largest export market for Quebec and Canadian producers. This federal support must continue to enable us to benefit from the signing of the TPP.
In closing, I would like to point out that many maple syrup producers in Canada are also subject to supply management. We are sensitive to their request that supply-managed markets not be upset too much in the application of the TPP.
The president and I will be pleased to provide further information in response to your questions.