Years of negotiation intensified in the late summer months. It wasn’t until Oct. 5 that officials announced a deal had been reached with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), an agreement among 12 nations. According to the government, “The TPP agreement will give Canada preferential access to dynamic and growing Asia-Pacific markets.” Additionally, tariffs and other barriers faced by a wide range of Canadian products, including agricultural products, will be cut._x000D_
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Countries participating in the TPP are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam._x000D_
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While there was varying support among different agricultural groups, there are a few components that directly affect the seed industry._x000D_
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For the seed industry, the TPP is expected to help improve the trade of seed with attention given to sanitary and phytosanitary standards, biotechnology, regulatory cooperation and streamlined customs administration procedures._x000D_
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The TPP includes a “strong” Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Chapter, including provisions on regionalization, equivalence, and science and risk analysis. These provisions will likely help ensure that market access gains are not negatively impacted by unjustified SPS-related_x000D_
restrictions._x000D_
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While addressing the issue of unjustified SPS-related restrictions, the chapter also safeguards the right of each party to take measures necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health. To help with the balancing act, this chapter establishes a mechanism that allows SPS issues to be addressed by experts, resulting in enhanced cooperation and resolution of issues._x000D_
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When it comes to biotechnology, government representatives report that they have secured provisions on products of modern biotechnology. This emphasizes the importance of transparency in each country’s science-based approval processes for biotechnology products._x000D_
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According to the office of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, the text of the TPP addresses low-level presence in a way that minimizes adverse trade impacts of current regulatory practices. It also includes the establishment of a working group to address biotech-related issues. These measures should benefit Canadian seed companies and producers of biotech products, as well as farmers._x000D_
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Despite the celebrations in reaching a deal, it might take a while before TPP can be implemented. All 12 countries involved must ratify the final legal text, which hadn’t been released at the time of print._x000D_
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Additionally, getting the deal through the Republican-held U.S. Congress could be especially tricky, with just a year before the country’s next presidential election.
