I think the essential point there was for all of us to realize that the signing of a free trade agreement is a fundamental and important first step in terms of gaining market access, but the efforts have to go beyond that. There's been a lot of talk around the committee this afternoon about non-tariff barriers, for example.
There are other challenges, as well. There are other domestic policy challenges in the form of labour. It's the one we talk about the most.
In the cattle industry, there was a recent study done that we're missing out on almost a half a billion dollars in beef sales simply because there isn't enough labour both on farm and in our plants to maximize the value of carcasses. In several beef plants right across the country there's a continual work shortage where worker stations are empty, and we're not maximizing the value of our carcasses that producers are raising.
Along with trade policy and targeting specific markets where we could succeed, there will have to be other supporting policies. What can we do to increase the domestic labour force in agriculture and agri-food? What are the other policies that are taking away? I simply refer to the front-of-pack labelling as just an example of something that is homegrown here in Canada that might not be providing much benefit at all in terms of being able to promote Canadian beef abroad.
We need to take a look at other policies to make sure they're supportive of our trade agenda.