Dairy Farmers of Canada says revised CPTPP agreement puts Canadian dairy at risk

Dairy Farmers of Canada has responded to reports that Canada will likely sign a revised CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) agreement.

The deal includes the market access concessions originally agreed to in October 2015, when the US, the world's largest economy, was still a part of the deal.

DFC said although the loss of the US represents a loss of approximately 60% of the original TPP market GDP, the original concessions to Canada’s domestic dairy market remain.

It questioned how the deal is in the best interests of Canadians.

‘Somber day’ for Canadian dairy

The organization said while some sectors may see the recent CPTPP developments as a positive, it is ‘a somber day for the 221,000 Canadians that depend on the dairy sector for their livelihood.’

Pierre Lampron, president of DFC, said, "On the one hand, the Canadian government has repeatedly stated that it wants a vibrant, strong, and growing dairy sector that creates jobs and fosters investments; on the other hand, it continues to carve out pieces of our domestic dairy market, first through CETA, and now through the CPTPP.

"The Government must understand that in continuing to make these concessions, they are putting the Canadian dairy sector in jeopardy."

NAFTA concerns

The announcement coincides with NAFTA renegotiations, which DFC also said threatens to weaken the Canadian dairy industry.

The DFC said it is critical that the Canadian Government understands that when it comes to the renegotiation of NAFTA, they must not give up any more on the backs of the hundreds of thousands of farmers and workers in the Canadian dairy sector. 

"Our message to the Canadian government as it is negotiating NAFTA is simple: no more concessions - enough is enough, they cannot continue to carve out portions of the dairy sector," Lampron said.