As you all know, we currently have a trade agreement with the European Union. One of the non‑tariff barriers imposed on Canada is the obligation to use certain products to preserve meat bound for Europe.
The goal is to avoid bacterial contamination.
The product that we normally use in North America is equivalent to the product used in Europe. However, our processors must use a product manufactured only in Europe. The processors have trouble obtaining this product. That's one example.
I have another example. In the new trade agreement with Great Britain, the Europeans have imposed animal welfare rules that are equivalent to our rules, but worded differently. As a result, if we carry on as before, we won't have access to markets, simply because the words used in the rules are different.
The quality or welfare of the animals are the same. It's just a wording issue. Yet the Europeans will interpret our rules and block access to their markets.