Obama Faces Push Back from Ag Groups over TPP Negotiations

May 29, 2014

A coalition of agriculture associations in the United States are unhappy with the way that the Obama administration has been handling the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. In particular, concerns have been raised about the U.S. allowing Japan to keep its tariffs on certain agricultural products, including dairy, sugar, rice, beef, pork, wheat and barley.

In a release produced by the National Pork Producers (NPPC), agriculture groups urge President Obama to conclude TPP talks and leave Japan out of the deal, unless it agrees to eliminate its gate price system and tariffs on agricultural products.

Farm groups are worried that if the U.S. gives Japan special treatment that it will set a bad precedent, making way for other countries to request similar treatment. Ultimately, the stalled talks with Japan could jeopardize the entire trade agreement.

The TPP includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. According to NPPC, the combined countries account for almost 40 per cent of the global GDP.

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.