In 2012, Canada joined the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations. The TPP was an Asia-Pacific regional trade deal that also includes the United States, Japan, Mexico, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand Singapore, Chile, Peru, and Brunei.
The TPP was one of the most significant trade initiatives around the globe. Collectively, the TPP countries represented a market of 792 million people and accounted for close to 40% of the world’s GDP and over 65% of Canada’s $56 billion in agriculture and food trade.
The TPP was envisioned as a “comprehensive and high-standard” FTA that addressed existing and emerging trade issues in a way that meets 21st-century objectives. CAFTA and its members support this goal.
The TPP intended to boost trade and production among its member countries and create jobs by eliminating import tariffs and other barriers to trade goods, services, and investment. The negotiations also covered other areas, such as government procurement and regulatory cooperation.
The TPP was expected to increase Canada’s foothold in Asia, a region that is expected to contain two-thirds of the world’s middle class by 2030 and one-half of the global GDP by 2050. Canada and its competitors recognize significant potential Asia has to offer. As Asia’s rapid growth transforms the global economy, it is essential that Canada intensify its commercial engagement in the region in order to stay globally competitive.
TPP countries included some of Canada’s largest importers of agriculture and agri-food products such as the United States, Japan, and Mexico as well as emerging countries that have strong economic growth such as Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia.
CAFTA believed that to achieve its objectives, the TPP needed to eliminate tariffs and quantitative import restrictions on all goods. The agreement aimed to include new and sustainable approaches to deal with many critical trade issues, including non-tariff barriers, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, rules of origin, customs administration, and other measures that can be critical to ensuring that market access commitments are real.
Canadian agriculture and food exporters, individually and collectively through the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, invested significant time and effort in assisting Canada in advocating for a favorable outcome from TPP negotiations.
The TPP evolved into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). For more information see the CPTPP page.
Canada TPP briefing note: English
Canada TPP briefing note: French
Last updated: December 2022