Ottawa, ON – The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) welcomes yesterday’s announcement of the progress in establishing the first Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO) that will be located in Manila, Philippines by the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food at the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) board meeting. The IPAAO will be resourced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
“Cattle producers are encouraged to see the progress in establishing the IPAAO and look forward to seeing the office enhance market access opportunities in the region,” stated Nathan Phinney, CCA President. “Following the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), we’ve seen the tremendous growth potential in the Indo-Pacific region for Canadian beef exports—we are excited for future export growth opportunities in the region.”
The IPAAO is a long-standing request from both CCA and CAFTA that will support Canadian agricultural trade in the region. CCA will continue to collaborate on the office’s development including a strategic workplan. The IPAAO will offer technical expertise, support to Canadian exporters in the whole Indo-Pacific region, and a stronger diplomatic presence to help bolster the growth of Canadian beef exports.
CCA continues to support securing meaningful market access through free trade agreements (FTAs) in the Indo-Pacific, including the Indonesia and Southeast Asian Association Nations FTAs. The ongoing negotiations are an opportunity to also address non-tariff barriers so Canadian beef exports have the best opportunity of long-term success in the region.
Source : Cattle.ca