Quick Facts:
- Interprovincial trade in agriculture and agri-food products was valued at $40 billion in 2011.
- Inconsistencies between jurisdictions creates unnecessary differences that act as barriers to trade, raising the operating costs and the cost to consumers.
Working Toward Solutions:
CFA presented in May 2016 to the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce on issues pertaining to barriers to internal trade.
During this presentation, CFA identified the two largest obstacles to interprovincial or domestic trade as differing provincial transportation regulations and inconsistencies between provincial and federal inspections require at meat processing facilities. CFA stresses that Canada should make the most of local and regional business prospects while it seeks to finalize international trade agreements, notably the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement.
CFA has also passed several resolutions with regard to domestic trade in its policy manual, and will continue to make sure that farmers’ viewpoints is represented in any forum on internal trade in Canada.
CFA Recommendations:
- Federal and provincial governments should continue their work towards developing complementary transportation regulations, and providing resources the Agreement on Internal Trade Secretariat would help to move this process forward.
- CFA encourages the government to harmonize inspection standards between provincial and federally regulated meat inspection facilities so that meat processed in either type of facility can travel and be sold at all outlets across Canada.
- A renewed agreement on internal trade must respect established supply management systems and not affect current marketing structures.