International Trade committee  I concur with Mr. Harvey. Retaliatory levies are very possible, or a retaliatory action. Our hope is that there will be sober second thought and that it would be returned either opposed or returned with amendments. That would be the best course of action. That would give the opportunity for the House to review it and determine if we can move forward.

International Trade committee  We need to get it out of the Senate unamended. It has to get out. It has to go into force. We need to demonstrate to the United States.... I was fortunate enough to go to D.C. with some parliamentarians and some senators to meet—

International Trade committee  Mr. Davidson was on that trip. We went with a group of Liberals and Conservatives and senators. We met with U.S. officials, both congressmen and USDA officials, to get confirmation that all we need to do to get privileged access back to PACA in the U.S. is to implement Bill C-280 as written.

International Trade committee  Yes, we've continually provided the same commentary. We haven't done that within the last few months, but on an ongoing basis we've provided input around science-based, data-driven systems that are harmonized and equivalent across North America. In that approach, we can see an effective trade model that builds business, both domestically and internationally.

International Trade committee  That's a good question. I'll speak to the question that was asked around the deemed trust discussions. In Canada, if we move forward with the mechanism around financial protection, then Bill C-280, which is in front of the Senate, would be one of the other tools that would enable working around and within CUSMA.

International Trade committee  I'm a founding member of the national agri-food sustainability index, which was created to find the benchmarks to gauge our strength and sustainability within agri-food. It's a vital piece moving forward. I'm in agreement with Mr. Harvey. This cannot be a trading tool or a competitive tool.

International Trade committee  In the trade relationship with the fresh fruit and vegetable sector, we've seen growth and development within our trading relationships in an increased export strategy with our U.S. partners, as well as growth in the Mexican market. Where we've actually seen some challenges is in our own domestic internal trading framework.

International Trade committee  The water component is a fundamental factor. Water will be a future challenge for everyone. That's the first and foremost step within our sustainability strategy, especially within a North American context and our trading relationship within agriculture: How do we solidify and manage our sustainability framework and drive forward with ensuring everyone has the water necessary for production?

International Trade committee  Unfortunately, they haven't yet.

International Trade committee  We had full House support. I understand we have support from the Senate. However, I am not a gambler: I like to see discussion. I'd like to see it cross the finish line as fast as possible and see the Senate move it back with support but without amendments.

International Trade committee  Deloitte published a report showing a 30% increase in food costs based on the P2 notice and plastic strategy currently being proposed. Congressman Sessions provided a letter to the ambassador identifying concerns under CUSMA relative to chapter 24 in sections 2, 4 and 5 that articulates concerns that I noted in my testimony.

International Trade committee  The agreement does hold anti-dumping mechanisms in place. The complexity of those mechanisms requires demonstration of production and sale of underpriced products. The process that we need to ensure is in place is that we're always looking at valid data, sound science, and expediency of review when putting it in play.

International Trade committee  We have to ensure, in the imposition of.... We go back to some of the discussions on the retaliatory tariff for digital media. It's the one watch-out that we have to be careful of, relative to imposition of any levies or duties without the data and the science to validate. It's the only caution I would give, but working with a rapid-action format could provide us with the springboard into delivery of the right response in the situation of a dumping environment.

International Trade committee  Yes, it's a deemed trust.

International Trade committee  Unfortunately, it's stalled.