On March 8, 2018, the Trade Ministers and representatives from the 11 remaining Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries met in Santiago, Chile, to sign the revised agreement now named the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
The IBA applauds this pivotal progress as the CPTPP incorporates the market access provisions of the TPP. The CPTPP members of the IBA will continue to work with their respective governments to support their efforts to bring the new agreement into effect.
As this process moves forward, it is important that international trade agreements benefit all people, including small business owners. Hundreds of thousands of beef producers in the member nations of the IBA are small business owners, trying to make a living for their families by raising cattle.
David Haywood-Farmer, Vice President of IBA member Canadian Cattlemen’s Association was present at the CPTPP signing ceremony in Chile and commented, “International trade is the lifeblood for beef producers, since the value of each animal can only be maximized when every part of the animal can be sold to the market that most values it.” In the face of growing anti-globalisation sentiment internationally, it is timely and welcomed that CPTPP countries have demonstrated commitment to deepening regional trade and integration.
The terms agreed under the CPTPP will either lower or eliminate customs duties on beef products amongst the CPTPP members. For example, beef produced in IBA members Australia, Canada, Mexico and New Zealand will gain preferred entry to Japan at 9% instead of the current 38.5% Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rate.
“Bottom line, bringing the market access terms of the CPTPP into effect will mean more money in the pockets of farmers” said Haywood-Farmer.
The CPTPP will start to come into force once six of the eleven signatories complete their domestic ratification procedures. CPTPP members envision that additional countries could join the agreement. The IBA looks forward to a future when all IBA member countries might participate in the CPTPP.
About IBA – International Beef Alliance
The next annual meeting of the IBA will take place September of 2018 in Canada.
The International Beef Alliance includes the national organizations representing beef cattle producers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay and the United States. Together, the Cattle Council of Australia, Associação dos Criadores de Mato Grosso, Associação Nacional dos Confinadores de Brasil, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas, Asociación Rural de Paraguay, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, represent producers from countries that account approximately for 46% of global beef cattle production and 63% of global beef exports.
For more information please access: our About Us page.
http://internationalbeefalliance.com/pdf/2018/iba-statement-calgary-2018-es.pdf
http://internationalbeefalliance.com/pdf/2018/iba-statement-calgary-2018-pt.pdf