Canada and the United States reached an agreement in principle on a New North American Free Trade Agreement late into the evening on Sunday, Sept. 30. By far the biggest losers in the deal were Canadian dairy farmers. Reaction was swift. Here’s what was said:
“A good deal for Canada that will strengthen the middle class, grow the economy, create new jobs and more opportunities for Canadian businesses, workers, and families.
— Tweet by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
“Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) is disappointed with the results, which includes a calculated 3.9 per cent market access to the Canadian dairy industry. DFO does not have the details of how this new access will be applied and over what time frame. It is too early to tell to what extent that will limit our ability to grow.”
— Dairy Farmers of Ontario Chief Executive Officer
Graham Lloyd, on Sept. 30
“The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) congratulates Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on reaching an agreement that preserves and secures the duty-free access upon which the Canadian beef cattle sector has been built over the past 25 years. In addition to preserving duty-free trade in live cattle and beef, producers are pleased that the existing rules of origin and the most important dispute settlement provisions remain intact; there is nothing in the agreement on country of origin labelling for meat or livestock.”
— Canadian Cattlemen’s Association communications manager Gina Teel
“Tariffs remain on softwood lumber, steel, and aluminum, and Buy America still limits Canadian exports. Justin Trudeau gave up a lot, but didn’t seem to gain anything significant in return. Canadian workers deserve better.”
— Tweet by federal Conservative leader Andrew Scheer
“Consider the urban commentary on USMCA saying stuff like . . .’we didn’t give up much’, or ‘it’s a good deal,’ (Supply managed) agriculture gave up quite a bit, especially considering feathers, eggs and dairy etc, plus Class 7 — no day to celebrate. (Supply management) agriculture got whacked.”
— Tweet by Chatham-Kent grain farmer Phil Shaw
“We’re calling on the Trudeau Liberals to compensate our farmers. We weren’t at the table or maybe the deal would have been a little different.”
— Ontario PC premier Doug Ford
“We are reviewing details and impact of the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, but it is clear the concessions made will hurt hard-working farmers in our supply-managed sectors, especially the dairy industry. As the premier said in question period, we will stand up for our farmers and hold the federal government accountable to compensate the agricultural sector. This new trade deal cannot leave our farmers behind.”
— Ontario Minister of Agriculture Ernie Hardeman (PC-Oxford County)
“When you chip away at it with each trade negotiation, you are condemning (supply management) to die a slow death. The bottom line is that supply management allows, among other things, almost 220,000 Canadians to earn a living in the dairy sector. It also contributes some $20 billion a year to Canada’s gross domestic product. Today, the message sent to our passionate, proud and quality-conscious people is clear. They are nothing more than a bargain chip to satisfy President Trump.”
— Dairy Farmers of Canada vice-president and dairy farmer David Wiens
“This agreement ensures that the existing strong trade relationship between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico will continue. This relationship is vital to the prosperity of the Ontario grain industry and the USMCA will provide stability that will benefit grain farmers across Ontario. As this and other agreements, such as CPTPP are ratified, that stability will continue to grow.
— Grain Farmers of Ontario chair Markus Haerle
“The USMCA trade deal is a ‘gut punch for Canada’s dairy farmers.”
— Globe and Mail columnist
Barrie McKenna
“This is the best deal that could be expected given that neither negotiating team were truly free-traders.”
— Sun News columnist
Lorne Gunter
“The Canadian Federation of Agriculture is deeply disappointed with the agricultural concessions included in the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“While the government did achieve beneficial results for some sectors within agriculture, such as increased U.S. market access for Canada’s sugar beet producers, initial indications suggest the livelihood of producers in Canada’s supply managed sectors will be hurt by the concessions included within this new trade deal.”
— Canadian Federation of Agriculture statement
