Thank you, Fawn.
At the same time as addressing tariff removals, we want to focus on the further removal of limits on Canadian beef exports, such as restrictions on certain cuts of meat and age of eligibility of cattle—for example, removing the restrictions of bone-in beef for Indonesia or the over 30-month access for South Korea and Taiwan. Japan and Singapore have removed all of these restrictions. We would like to see the other nations follow suit.
We also would like to see the focus on increasing our capacity to be proactive in addressing and preventing market access issues. This could be accomplished by creating a new Indo-Pacific diversification office. This office should have the mandate to prevent and resolve agricultural market access issues, and would complement current staff in the region and provide much-needed technical resources to address new and ongoing market access issues, deepening the connections, supporting regional capacity-building and preventing new trade barriers from arising.
We strongly encourage members of Parliament to remove trade barriers around the globe, especially in the Indo-Pacific, given the current demand and growth potential for beef exports into the region.
CCA appreciates the opportunity to provide input on trade opportunities for Canadian business into the Indo-Pacific. We would be pleased to provide any further information that the committee asks for.
Thank you.