LES MEMBRES DE L’ACCA SE RÉJOUISSENT DE LA RATIFICATION DE L’ACCORD DE LIBRE-ÉCHANGE CANADA-CORÉE

 Une mise en œuvre rapide, la prochaine étape pour accéder au marché coréen

 OTTAWA, ONTARIO, 3 décembre 2014 – L’Alliance canadienne du commerce agroalimentaire (ACCA) se réjouit de la ratification de l’accord de libre-échange Canada-Corée annoncée plus tôt aujourd’hui.

« Nous sommes reconnaissants au gouvernement du Canada pour ses efforts inlassables en vue de conclure cet accord, souligne la présidente de l’ACCA, Lisa Skierka. Grâce à l’annonce d’aujourd’hui selon laquelle l’accord a reçu la sanction royale au Canada et a été pleinement ratifié en Corée du Sud hier, nous sommes sur le point de faire profiter les Canadiens et Canadiennes des retombées du libre-échange avec la Corée du Sud. »

La Corée du Sud est un marché lucratif de 50 millions de consommateurs et une plaque tournante de la chaîne d’approvisionnement de l’Asie. Les membres de l’ACCA s’entendent tous sur la nécessité d’approuver cet accord et de le mettre en œuvre à compter du 1^er janvier 2015.

« Un commerce stable et ouvert avec la Corée est prioritaire pour l’industrie du canola. La mise en œuvre de l’accord le 1^er janvier 2015 rétablira l’égalité des chances pour l’industrie canadienne du canola, affirme Brian Innes, vice-président, Relations gouvernementales, pour le Conseil canadien du canola (CCC). »

Le CCC estime que les exportations de graines et d’huile de canola, qui atteignent actuellement 60 millions de dollars et 90 millions de dollars, respectivement, pourraient doubler si l’ALECC était mis en œuvre.

Il y a encore quelques années, le Canada était le fournisseur privilégié de la Corée pour de nombreux produits agroalimentaires. Toutefois, les accords commerciaux conclus par la Corée avec les principaux compétiteurs du Canada (notamment l’Union européenne, les États-Unis et l’Australie) et les droits de douane élevés ont considérablement réduit les échanges entre les deux pays. L’ALECC abolira les tarifs historiquement élevés sur les exportations agroalimentaires canadiennes, une étape importante du rétablissement du commerce entre les deux pays.

« L’élimination des tarifs d’importation sud-coréens permettra à l’industrie canadienne du porc de recouvrer sa position traditionnelle de premier fournisseur de l’un des principaux pays importateurs de porc au monde, a déclaré Jean-Guy Vincent, président du Conseil canadien du porc.

Dès que les transformateurs et les exportateurs de viande du Canada auront retrouvé un accès concurrentiel, on prévoit que les exportations annuelles de bœuf et de porc reprendront et dépasseront leurs sommets antérieurs. La Corée est l’un des plus grands importateurs de viande au monde, avec des besoins en importation excédant les 2 milliards de dollars annuellement en bœuf et en porc.

« Je me réjouis de l’entrée en vigueur de l’ALECC à temps pour rétablir la compétitivité du bœuf canadien sur le marché coréen, a mentionné Dave Solverson, président de la Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. »

L’ALECC signale aux consommateurs coréens qu’ils peuvent recommencer à se procurer du bœuf canadien et conserver une position concurrentielle à long terme.

De plus, comme la Corée du Sud est le quatrième marché de l’orge de brasserie, la ratification et la mise en œuvre de l’ALECC créeront de nouveaux débouchés pour l’industrie brassicole et les producteurs d’orge canadiens.

« Cet accord procurera aux malteurs canadiens non seulement une stabilité d’exportation concurrentielle en Corée, mais il leur ouvrira la porte à ce que sera à notre avis la plus importante hausse de vente des onze dernières années, a ajouté Phil de Kemp, président de l’Association de l’industrie brassicole du Canada. »

L’ACCA est une coalition d’organismes nationaux et régionaux qui préconisent un contexte commercial international ouvert et transparent pour nos industries agroalimentaires. Les membres de l’ACCA comprennent les regroupements de producteurs, de transformateurs, de négociants et d’exportateurs des grands secteurs qui dépendent du commerce au Canada. Ensemble, ces secteurs produisent presque 80 % des exportations agricoles et agroalimentaires canadiennes, ont un chiffre d’affaires annuel d’environ 40 milliards de dollars et emploient directement près de 500 000 Canadiens.

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Pour obtenir plus d’information, communiquez avec :

Claire Citeau

Directrice générale

Alliance canadienne du commerce agroalimentaire (ACCA)

cciteau@cafta.org

613-560-0500

CAFTA MEMBERS PLEASED WITH IMPORTANT MILESTONE FOR CANADA–KOREA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

Quick implementation is the next step to access the Korean market

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, December 3, 2014 – The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) is pleased with today’s announcement that the Canada–Korea Economic Growth and Prosperity Act has received royal assent. This announcement, in conjunction with the conclusion of the South Korea’s ratification process, is the next step to concluding the Canada–Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA).

“We would like to thank the Government of Canada for their tireless work towards completing this agreement,” said CAFTA President Lisa Skierka.  “With today’s announcement, we are on track for bringing the benefits of free trade with South Korea home to Canadians.”

South Korea is a lucrative market of 50 million consumers and a key central hub for the Asia–Pacific agri-food supply chain. CAFTA members are united in their approval of this agreement, and the need for it to be implemented by January 1, 2015.

“Stable and open trade with Korea is significant for the canola industry. Implementing the agreement on January 1, 2015 will allow Canadian canola to enter the market on a level-playing field,” said Brian Innes, vice president of government relations for the Canola Council of Canada (CCC).

The CCC estimates that exports for canola seed and canola oil, $60- and $90-million per year respectively, could double once the CKFTA is implemented.

Until a few years ago, Canada was a preferred supplier to Korea for many agri-food products. However, trade agreements established by Korea with Canada’s top competitors (including the European Union, the United States and Australia) and high tariffs have reduced trade between the two countries dramatically. The CKFTA will remove the historically high tariffs on Canadian agri-food exports, an important step in rebuilding trade between the two countries.

“The elimination of South Korean import tariffs will allow the Canadian pork industry to recover its traditional position as a lead supplier to what is one of the world’s most important pork importing countries,” said Jean-Guy Vincent, chair of the Canadian Pork Council.

Once Canada’s meat processors and exporters regain competitive access, it is projected that annual beef and pork exports will rebound and surpass their previous peaks. Korea is one the most important meat importers in the world with import demand exceeding $2 billion for beef and pork products annually.

“I am very pleased that the CKFTA will be in place on time to restore a competitive position for Canadian beef in the Korean market,” said Dave Solverson, president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

The CKFTA signals to Korean buyers that they can resume their relationship with Canadian beef and maintain a long-term competitive position.

Additionally, South Korea is the fourth-largest market for malting barley. A ratified and implemented CKFTA will result in new marketing opportunities for the malt industry and for Canadian barley farmers.

“This agreement will provide Canadian maltsters not only competitive export stability into Korea, but also it opens the door for what we believe will be significant increased sales over the course of the next 11 years,” added Phil de Kemp, president of the Malting Industry Association of Canada.

CAFTA is a coalition of national and regional organizations that support a more open and fair international trading environment for agriculture and agri-food. CAFTA’s members include producer organizations, processors, marketers and exporters from the major trade dependent sectors in Canada. Together, these sectors produce almost 80 per cent of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food exports, conduct about $40 billion in business annually and directly employ close to 500,000 Canadians.

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For further information, contact:

Claire Citeau

Executive Director

Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA)

cciteau@cafta.org

613-560-0500

Déclaration de l’Alliance Canadienne du Commerce Agroalimentaire concernant les pourparlers commerciaux du Partenariat transpacifique

OTTAWA (ON) – Le 7 novembre 2014 – Alors que les ministres du commerce du Partenariat transpacifique (PTP) se préparent à se rencontrer en marge du forum de la Coopération économique pour l’Asie-Pacifique (APEC) à Beijing le 8 novembre 2014, la présidente de l’Alliance Canadienne du Commerce Agroalimentaire (ACCA), Lisa Skierka, a effectué aujourd’hui la déclaration suivante concernant le statut des pourparlers commerciaux du PTP :

« L’Alliance Canadienne du Commerce Agroalimentaire (ACCA) continue à promouvoir une entente commerciale ambitieuse et qui offre un accès égalitaire à tous les produits concurrents dans la zone couverte par le PTP.

Une fois mis en oeuvre, le PTP renforcera la croissance économique et créera des emplois dans l’ensemble de la région Asie-Pacifique, l’un des marchés d’exportation prioritaires du Canada. Cette entente déterminante ouvrira de nouveaux marchés aux entreprises de tous les pays faisant partie du PTP, et doit se faire sans exception.

Afin de mettre à profit le plein potentiel de cette entente, l’ACCA encourage fortement les ministres du commerce et les négociateurs à éliminer les tarifs sur tous les produits et à offrir la même période d’élimination graduelle des tarifs et de réduction des tarifs pour chaque ligne tarifaire. Sans cela, le PTP pourrait réduire la compétitivité des exportateurs canadiens si certains pays membres avaient un meilleur accès au(x) marché(s) que d’autres.

L’ACCA appelle tous les pays du PTP à ouvrir la voie à une libéralisation économique dans cette région et à se faire les champions d’une entente commerciale véritablement ambitieuse.

Seule une entente exhaustive et plurilatérale remplira la pleine promesse du PTP et apportera le maximum d’avantages commerciaux aux pays membres, y compris aux Canadiens et à l’économie canadienne. »

Faits en bref :

• Les pays du PTP représentent un marché de 792 millions de personnes et un PIB de 28,1 trillions $ (près de 40 % de l’économie mondiale).
• En 2013, les exportations agroalimentaires canadiennes vers les pays du PTP (y compris le Japon et les É.-U.) ont totalisé 4 milliards $.
• Les pays du PTP représentent près de 65 % des exportations agroalimentaires canadiennes.

L’ACCA est une coalition d’organismes nationaux et régionaux qui préconisent un contexte commercial international ouvert et transparent pour nos industries agroalimentaires. Les membres de l’ACCA comprennent les regroupements de producteurs, de transformateurs, de négociants et d’exportateurs des grands secteurs qui dépendent du commerce au Canada. Ensemble, ces secteurs produisent presque 80 % des exportations agricoles et agroalimentaires canadiennes, ont un chiffre d’affaires annuel d’environ 50 milliards de dollars et emploient directement près de 500 000 Canadiens.

Pour obtenir plus d’information, communiquez avec :

Claire Citeau

Directrice générale, ACCA

613-560-0500

Statement by Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance on

Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Talks

OTTAWA (ON) – November 7, 2014 – As Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade ministers are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Beijing on November 8, 2014, Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) President Lisa Skierka today issued the following statement on the status of the TPP trade talks:

“The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) continues to advocate for a comprehensive trade agreement that deliversequal access for competing products across the TPP region.

Once implemented, the TPP will strengthen economic growth and create jobs throughout the Asia–Pacific region, one of Canada’s priority export markets. This landmark agreement will open up new markets to businesses from all TPP countries, and must do so without exception.

In order to reach the full potential of this agreement, CAFTA strongly encourages the TPP trade ministers and negotiators to eliminate tariffs on all products and provide the same phase-out period and reduction in tariffs for each tariff line. Without this, the TPP could actually reduce the competitiveness of Canadian exporters if some TPP members provide greater market access to some countries than to others.

CAFTA calls on all TPP countries to lead the path to economic liberalization in the region and be champions of this ground-breaking trade agreement.

Only with comprehensive and plurilateral outcomes will the full promise of the TPP be achieved, and the trade benefits realized for all members, including Canadians and the Canadian economy.”

Quick Facts:

• TPP countries represent a market of 792 million people and a combined GDP of $28.1 trillion (close to 40 per cent of the world economy).
• In 2013, total Canadian agri-food exports to TPP countries (including Japan and the U.S.) totaled $4 billion.
• TPP countries represent almost 65 per cent of Canada’s agri-food exports.

CAFTA is a coalition of national and regional organizations that support a more open and fair international trading environment for agriculture and agri-food. CAFTA’s members include producer organizations, processors, marketers and exporters from the major trade dependent sectors in Canada. Together, these sectors produce almost 80 per cent of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food exports, conduct about $50 billion in business annually and directly employ close to 500,000 Canadians.

For further information, contact:

Claire Citeau

Executive Director, CAFTA

613-560-0500

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International Agricultural and Agri-Food Producers

Call for Strong Outcomes through the TPP

Sydney, Australia – OCTOBER 24, 2014 – At the round of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations taking place this week in Australia, agri-food producer and processor groups from Canada, Australia and New Zealand are calling for negotiators to maintain a high level of ambition in the trade talks, and to conclude a comprehensive trade agreement with equal access for competing products across the region.

The groups calling for an ambitious, comprehensive agreement through the TPP trade talks include the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, the Australian National Farmers’ Federation and the Federated Farmers of New Zealand. Representing hundreds of thousands of farmers, producers, processors and exporters with millions of employees across the TPP region, these groups remain united in support of an expedited and successful conclusion to the negotiations.

“The value of this agreement is reflected in the significant economic boost it offers to our countries,” said Lisa Skierka, president of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance. “However, in order for our agricultural sectors to benefit from these opportunities, we need to ensure that a plurilateral agreement is in place. If TPP members provide select market access to some countries over others, our regional supply chains may actually be worse off than they were before.”

Preferred access within the TPP region is seen as a key component of future economic success.

“Once implemented, the TPP has the potential for agriculture and agri-food businesses in the region to pursue new export opportunities, to diversify their operations and thus ultimately improve their competitiveness,” said Brett Finlay, president of the Australian National Farmers’ Federation. “This is the time to, work together in securing a high quality agreement which addresses trade barriers – both at and behind the border. Our economies and supply chains will all benefit from increased access to agricultural and agri-food commodities.”

With a total population of 792 million people, the TPP region is a burgeoning portion of the global economy—but one that lacks a comprehensive trade agreement. In fact, the region boasts a total GDP that comprises nearly 40 per cent of the world’s economy.

“The agriculture sector needs the TPP to be in place in order to take advantage of the huge opportunities that would be afforded by it,” said Dr. William Rolleston, president of the Federated Farmers of New Zealand. “We are calling for trade talks to progress this week, as the global value chain cannot continue to wait for commercially meaningful growth.”

A critical element of a truly plurilateral agreement is the comprehensive elimination of tariffs throughout the region.

Currently, there are 12 TPP negotiating parties: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.  In 2012, trade among TPP partners was more than $2 trillion. This number is poised to increase provided that the TPP eliminates tariff and non-tariff barriers.

The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, the Australian National Farmers’ Federation and the Federated Farmers of New Zealand remain committed to the need for a plurilateral agreement, access to new market opportunities and the elimination of tariffs and other barriers in the TPP trade agreement.

TPP Joint Statement – October – Final

For further information, contact:

Claire Citeau

Executive Director

Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA)

cciteau@cafta.org

Tony Mahar

General Manager Policy and Trade and Economics

National Farmers’ Federation of Australia

tmahar@nff.org.au

Mark Ross

General Manager Policy and Advocacy

Federated Farmers of New Zealand

mross@fedfarm.org.nz

Market Research & Policy Assistant

Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Area

Job Description

Reporting to the Executive Director, this Ottawa-based position plays an integral research and analytical role in backing the mandate of the organization.

The position monitors and analyzes opportunities, issues, trends and policy developments related to benefits of free trade agreements for Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector. This is a position that provides supports towards the development of strategic initiatives and is focused on key priority export markets.

The job responsibilities include the monitoring, research and analysis of data from a wide variety of sources to support the development of information tools (fact sheets, briefings, reports, presentations).

Work hours and pay

This is a part-time position for up to 60 hours per month, starting immediately. Salary will range between $15 and $18 per hour and will be commensurate with experience.

Desired Skills and Experience

Qualifications

–      Related university degree

–      Experience conducting research on a variety of topics for studies and reports

–      Strong computer skills in MS Office, especially in Excel

–      Good verbal and written communication skills

–      Previous internet research/updating skills

–      Knowledge of international affairs and trade

–      Knowledge of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector an asset

The ideal candidate will be a university student completing studies in international affairs/international trade.

How to apply

Please send your cover letter and resume in one document to info@cafta.org. Please indicate your last name and the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email.

Closing Statement

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates’ qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

About CAFTA

The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance is a coalition of national and regional organizations that support a more open and fair international trading environment for agriculture and agri-food. CAFTA’s members include producer organizations, processors, marketers and exporters from the major trade dependent sectors in Canada. Together, these sectors produce almost 80 per cent of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food exports, conduct about $50 billion in business annually and directly employ close to 500,000 Canadians.

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