Mexico Invited to Join Trans-Pacific Trade Talks
US - President Obama this week announced that the United States and the other countries negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) have extended an invitation to Mexico to join the TPP trade negotiations.
20 June 2012
2 minute read
The cattle industry in the US has said it supports Mexico's involvement.
“Mexico is our second-largest export market and their participation in these negotiations is paramount," said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President and Texas cattleman Bob McCan.
"TPP has the potential to be the beginning of a new era in global trade where tariff and non-tariff barriers are eliminated and standards are based on sound, objective science instead of political protectionism.
"This agreement could likely become much more than a multi-lateral free trade agreement. Eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers promotes greater economic stability and job creation in all countries, which will strengthen bonds between nations and encourage global security in the Pacific Rim.
“NCBA encourages the United States to push for full and free market access to all TPP countries. NCBA wants prices to be determined by market demand instead of being inflated by protectionist trade barriers, which is one of the greatest hindrances to US beef trade. Specifically, US beef is has been subject to non-science based standards in multiple countries for many years. This has been very disruptive for the US beef industry and has caused an enormous amount of damage to US beef trade.
“We cannot afford to perpetuate politically-motivated standards as a justification for public safety. All TPP countries must agree to and abide by the highest sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards possible, in accordance with the World Trade Organisation and the World Organisation for Animal Health. Mexico being a part of this historic agreement is a victory for global trade and for all US cattle ranchers.”
TheCattleSite News Desk
