Trade officials gathering
this week in Tokyo are trying to forge ahead on the Trans-Pacific Partnership
without the United States but are bogged down by Canada. The member countries
of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership,
also known as TPP 11, reached a basic agreement on the pact in November. But,
Canada is holding out to secure protection of its cultural industries and has
said it will not be rushed into signing a deal that other members hope to
conclude by March, according to Reuters. TPP nations are “committed” to
advancing the deal forward as quickly as possible. While not likely, the
nations could exclude Canada, as an Australian official says: “Our focus is on
bringing a new TPP agreement into force as soon as possible with those who are
ready to move.” Farm groups, including the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association,
last week urged Canada to commit to the agreement. Without the new TPP, the
Association says: “Canadian beef producers will watch helplessly as our exports
to Japan erode.”
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