MISSISSAUGA, ON – Turkey Farmers of Canada (TFC) is examining the details of
the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), but is concerned turkey farmers and their
families will be hurt by the terms of the agreement.
“While we look for further details on the implications of the deal, we know that any concessions
made, in addition to previous concessions under the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific
Partnership (CPTPP), come at a cost for our farmers and rural Canada,” said TFC Chair Darren
Ference. “We will be looking to the government of Canada for an action plan to support our farmers
in light of trade deals that are eroding the sustainability of our local food sector.”
“Ninety per cent of Canadians say they want turkey produced in Canada according to a recent
survey, but this deal will cause losses of family farms and less local turkey production,” said
Ference. “The severe impact on farmers and the entire value-chain requires remedial measures.”
“We have been working with the federal government on a strategy to offset the harm CPTPP is
causing, but this new NAFTA deal elevates the urgency,” noted Ference. “We will be pushing for
timely commitments to mitigation and remedies.”
“Supply management is being eroded by concessions in CPTPP and USMCA,” said Ference. “We
share the disappointment of farmers in the dairy, chicken and egg sectors on the increased market
disruption from USMCA. We are looking for a guarantee from the government that we will no
longer entertain further disruption to supply management and harm to the livelihoods of Canadian
farm families who produce Canadian poultry, dairy and eggs.”
Source : Turkey Farmers of Canada