Some farm groups in Canada have grave concerns about the Private Members Bill (C-282) that, according to Real Ag Radio host Shaun Haney, would “effectively tie the hands” of Canadian trade negotiators in all future trade deals by taking market access off the table.
Host of Rural Radio Channel 147’s Real Ag Radio, Shaun Haney joined us Tuesday on Market Day Report with a closer look at how the new Canadian legislation would affect the farmers and trade negotiators there as well as producers in the United States.
In his conversation with RFD-TV’s own Tammi Arender, Haney explained the specifics of C-282, what the legislation is attempting to accomplish,the current status of the bill, and the likelihood that it becomes law.
The bill was created to protect supply management in all future trade negotiations — but this creates a few major points of concern. For instance, Haney recalled that back to the NAFTA renegotiation, Canada gave up market access to the United States to close that deal. He said f this legislation passes, Canada would not be able to do that in future versions of the USMCA, or any other trade deals, including an important one with the United Kingdom currently in the works.
Haney said many ag and farm groups across the country are concerned that the proposed trade law change would effectively tie the hands of trade negotiators and potentially make Canada a target for other nations in future trade negotiations.
According to Haney, C-282 recently passed the Canadian House of Commons and is also supported by the country’s conservatives, so the likelihood of it becoming law is growing. That is why farm groups in many sectors are voicing their deep issues with the bill right now.
