U.S. weighs completing TPP without Canada: sources

[Recursion]

http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCAKCN0PK2D220150710?sp=true

The United States, frustrated over the lack of progress with Canada over new rules for agriculture trade, is weighing "contingencies" that could include completing a Pacific Rim trade pact that excludes Canada, according to two sources familiar with the issue.

...

According to the aide, Froman responded that he preferred to move forward with Canada, but added that the United States is "preparing for all contingencies."

Max Moncaster, a spokesman for Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast, told Reuters: "We continue to work with all TPP partners to conclude an ambitious agreement that will create jobs and prosperity for Canadians."

But Moncaster added that Ottawa will "continue to promote and defend Canadian trade interests across all sectors of our economy, including supply management."

The next round is in Honolulu in 2 weeks; it will be interesting to see if Canada budges on this or not.

[London Lover Man]

1. Delay the TPP as long as possible.

President Bernie will quash the TPP and offer a fair trade deal instead.

[Betty Karlson]

2. Going back to the drawing table is our best option at this point

No more 600 lobbyists, and instead representatives of ALL interested parties.

[Populist_Prole]

3. +1

Obstructionism in this case is a good thing.

[Monk06]

4. It must be a real piece of shit if Harper is dragging his feet on it. It could only mean water and

oil.

[Recursion]

5. It's about Canadian subsidies to dairy farmers (nt)

[Monk06]

7. I can't be that, compared to oil and water the dairy market is nothing. Got some info?

[Recursion]

8. It's in the article. The US wants Canada to decrease subsidies to Canadian dairy farmers

And Canada is refusing to. Why is it hard for you to believe Harper would want to protect Canadian farmers? Pretty much every politician wants to do that.

[Monk06]

9. The dairy industry isn't subsidized it's price protected with a set floor price to protect producers

Milk prices are quite a bit higher in Canada than the US and Canadians drive south to buy milk every chance they get. Not so much since the oil price collapse has taken the Canadian dollar down from par to $0.60 US.

Now milk prices are about the same.

I just find it hard to believe Harper would make an issue of milk unless he wants to take our eyes off water exports.

I'll give the article a closer look

[Art_from_Ark]

11. TPP is, in part, about destroying small-time agricultural producers

I hear the lame argument from TPP backers about how Japan needs to "open its food markets" and its agricultural producers are "inefficient" and need to be subjected to "international competition". What nonsense. Japanese farmers produce high-quality food with minimal input of chemicals. And Japan already imports 60% of its food and has a huge food glut. TPP is nothing but a corporate power grab to drive small producers in other countries out of business.

[Monk06]

10. We're both right if you take restricting out put to keep agricultural prices high as a form of

subsidy. But the US government does this on a massive scale with corn, beets and soybeans.

Probably why Canada is digging in. Under NAFTA Canada has been sued by the US continuously on beef, softwood lumber since the beginning of the agreement.

This is probably why Harper is stalling four months away from the election.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/01/14/canada-sued-investor-state-dispute-ccpa_n_6471460.html

[Recursion]

12. You're right, "subsidy" was a very simplistic way to put it

And Canada's system makes more sense than ours (you guys subsidize the farmer rather than the crop, roughly). But I imagine soy in particular will be losing some US support if TPP goes through.

[ucrdem]

6. TPP, the class project from hell

Everyone but the teacher hates it, no one cops to understanding it, the other teachers hope it will crash and burn, entire years roll by with nothing finished, and still Obama presses on . . .

p.s. happy Bastille day