Dear Editor
A few questions about the secretly negotiated Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.
If countries like Japan are currently buying B.C. raw resources for $3.64 billion a year, why do we need TPP to lower that country’s trade barriers? I mean, if Japan needs/wants our resources, doesn’t the first principle of capitalism – supply and demand – dictate it will continue to buy those resources tariffs notwithstanding?
The quid pro quo, so we’re told, is that Japan (and the other 12 countries involved) will lower or eliminate import tariffs on a broad range of products if we do the same, thus generating more bilateral trade. But, why does that mean we end up paying more for a product (e.g., pharmaceuticals) while at the same time losing jobs to foreign industries (e.g. auto sector) whose production costs are less?
And when it comes to protecting Canada’s supply management system (e.g., poultry and dairy) isn’t that really about food security? I mean, as long as we protect our food production against price under-cutting by other nations, aren’t we in reality safeguarding our ability to feed ourselves? Shouldn’t we be expanding supply management rather than trading it away piecemeal?
And, really why all the secrecy surrounding TPP negotiations? I mean, after all, trade is trade isn’t it? Or is the TPP something more than that? Something secret, maybe?
Bill Brassington Sr., Burnaby
