Trans-Pacific Partnership without Canada would have dire consequences: Brad Wall

Saskatchewan’s government is all for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, according to the premier, who says if Canada isn’t involved, the consequences could be dire.
 
In a statement released Wednesday, Brad Wall said the province strongly supports the negotiations currently happening for the trade deal. He said it would create “unprecedented” access to markets with great demand for Saskatchewan exports. Some of the countries involved – including Peru, New Zealand, and Malaysia – have already increased the goods they take in from Saskatchewan in the past eight years, according to Wall.
 
“Access to global markets is particularly important (in) Saskatchewan, which is one of the most export-dependent jurisdictions in the nation,” wrote Wall in the statement.
 
The premier said trade is especially important to Saskatchewan’s agricultural sector, which saw more than 95 per cent of its farm cash receipts in 2014 from export sectors.
 
He said Canada’s involvement in the negotiations is crucial, and other countries continuing without us would be dire – additional market access would be lost, and competing nations would “gain preferential access to key markets”.
 
Trade talks started in 2012, and are currently happening in Atlanta. An announcement on the deal is expected to be made on Friday.

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