Pork associations join forces on TPP tariff issue

By Georgi Gyton

- Last updated on GMT

The letter warns that failure to agree on the elimination of tariffs for pork could unravel TPP talks
The letter warns that failure to agree on the elimination of tariffs for pork could unravel TPP talks

Related tags National pork producers International trade Pork

Associations representing hog farmers in Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru and the USA have joined forces to push for the elimination of tariffs on pork.

An open letter, on behalf of the associations, was sent to the negotiators involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks, calling for a "comprehensive, high-quality"​ agreement, resulting in the removal of tariffs on nearly all products, including pork.

The associations involved include: Australian Pork Limited, the Canadian Pork Council, the Asociación Gremial de Productores de Cerdos de Chile, the Confederación de Porcicultores Mexicanos and the National Pork Producers Council (US).

The letter refers to the agreed-upon objectives of the TPP, which state that in terms of the trade in goods, there should be no product or sector exclusions, and that all tariffs and market access barriers such as Japan’s Gate Price be eliminated by the end of the negotiated transition period, according to the National Pork Producers Council.

"Failure to achieve these objectives would call into question the oft-stated pledge to make TPP the gold standard for future FTAs and our ability to support the agreement,"​ read the letter.

It also claimed that a broad exemption for Japan will encourage other TPP countries to withhold market access concessions, renege on current offers and "possibly unravel the entire agreement".

"Additionally, it would set a dangerous precedent for the expansion of the TPP when other nations are likely to demand a Japan-type deal,"​ said the letter.

"It is impossible to rationalise a TPP outcome that would allow a highly developed nation, such as Japan, to avoid undertaking commitments to full tariff liberalisation for products such as pork. We call on each of our governments to redouble their efforts to move Japan away from this untenable position."

The National Pork Producers Council has sent previous letters to officials within the US government as part of its mission to get Japan to eliminate tariffs on US pork.

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