International Trade committee  I'll just say that consultation is a two-way process. As an industry representative, we want to have the ability to explain our situation and make sure that the negotiators are fully aware of what's on the table. I reiterate my comment that I think the lack of access to the text

International Trade committee  Very quickly, I think the U.S. is talking out of both sides of its mouth, to be quite frank. On the one hand they're saying that they don't want to reopen the free trade agreements they have with most of the partners in the TPP, but they do want to have access for dairy in Canada

International Trade committee  I'd like to believe that, yes.

International Trade committee  Well, we'd say yes, but I want to build on the point that the lack of access to the documentation is a bit of a concern. There has been.... I'll go back to the Uruguay Round, where at the time we had SAGIT, which was a sectoral advisory group to the Minister of International Tr

International Trade committee  Twelve thousand farmers—

International Trade committee  —farms. There are more farmers than that.

International Trade committee  Yes, an intersectoral committee has been formed for consultation purposes. Mr. Leduc is a representative. This is a confidential advisory committee. I think the problem with the TPP is that we don't have access to any documents. This is true for all negotiations, as Mr. Sinclair

International Trade committee  We are briefed by the negotiator, Kirsten Hillman, on a regular basis.

International Trade committee  Yes.

International Trade committee  The department, DFAIT.

International Trade committee  The person on it did, yes.

International Trade committee  Mr. Chairperson, thank you for the opportunity to participate in the committee's study on the benefits to Canada of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The Dairy Farmers of Canada recognizes the importance of trade for this country and is on the record as supporting the government en

International Trade committee  The Europeans have their sensitive products too. Pork and beef are obviously sectors where very little access is granted to Canada or any other country. I believe that one of the bases of any agreement—and Mr. Clow discussed this earlier—is that there will be a harmonization of

International Trade committee  I don't have the figures to hand, but we put a figure on that impact at the outset, when we conducted the comparative economic studies. I should have brought them. Unfortunately, I can't give them to you. I'll be pleased to send them to you later. I somewhat share your opinion;

International Trade committee  That may be the subject that's being discussed the most. On the procurement issue, there are also some very important issues for Europe. Canada is clearly much more demanding than Europe in this negotiation. In other words, its market is much larger. It has interests in Canada, b