Grainswest - Winter 2019

Winter 2019 Grains West 34 BY ALLISON FINNAMORE CPTPP will give Canadian ag better access to this lucrative Asianmarket FEATURE ITH THE IMPLEMENTATION of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Canada will now have better access to international markets comprised of 495 million people, representing a $13.5 trillion chunk of the global gross domestic product (GDP). Canada cleared the way to ratify the trade deal in late October when the Senate passed Bill C-79 approving the agreement between Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, W New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The CPTPP could take effect as early as December 2018, promising trade access among the 11 signatory countries will improve, providing greater access for Canada to the growing Asia- Pacific region. With Canada part of one of the world’s largest free trade agreements, the nation’s wheat and barley farmers are set to enjoy improved access to Japan—considered to be the free trade agreement’s big prize. Japan is perennially hungry for high- quality grains and other ag products, and Canadian farmers deliver. Geoff Backman, business development and markets manager with the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC), said Canada has a reputation for delivering the wheat that’s right for Japan. “The Japanese appreciate high-quality wheat for their milling industry and we provide that,” he said. In fact, Canada’s reputation among the CPTPP partners is strong, as are exports, he added. The agreement will solidify relationships and export deals