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4 YEARSof negotiation intensified in the late summer months. It wasnt 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 barri- ers faced by a wide range of Canadian products including agricultural products will be cut. Countries participating in the TPP are Australia Brunei Canada Chile Japan Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Peru Singapore the United States and Vietnam. While there was varying support among different agricul- tural groups there are a few components that directly affect the seed industry. For the seed industry the TPP is expected to help improve the trade of seed with attention given to sanitary and phy- tosanitary standards biotechnology regulatory cooperation and streamlined customs administration procedures. The TPP includes a strong Sanitary and Phytosanitary SPS Chapter including provisions on regionalization equivalence and science and risk analysis. These pro- visions will likely help ensure that market access gains are not negatively impacted by unjustified SPS-related restrictions. While addressing the issue of unjustified SPS-related restric- tions 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. When it comes to biotechnology government representa- tives report that they have secured provisions on products of modern biotechnology. This emphasizes the importance of transparency in each countrys science-based approval processes for biotechnology products. 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. 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 hadnt been released at the time of print. Additionally getting the deal through the Republican-held U.S. Congress could be especially tricky with just a year before the countrys next presidential election. Julie Deering TPP PROVIDES NEW OPPORTUNITIES Phytosanitary issues regulatory cooperation and biotechnology are all part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and directly impact the seed industry. With negotiations complete Stephen Harpers administration might best be remembered for its painstaking work on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.