North American pork industry leaders share TPP, PEDv concerns

The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) recently hosted a meeting of North American pork industry leaders, finding several areas of common interest and concern, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus. CPC hosted leaders from the United States’ National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and Mexican pork producer organization Confederación de Porcicultores Mexicanos (CPM).
The meeting took place in Montreal.
"It is quite clear to me from our discussions that pork farmers from all across North America share the same abiding commitment to providing consumers a nutritious, safe and affordable food supply", said Jean-Guy Vincent, Chair of the Canadian Pork Council. “I’m pleased that we have a common interest and commitment to trade negotiations such as TPP and recognize that maintaining pork markets and opening up new markets to pork is important to the North American hog industry.”
Multi-national commitment to prevent resurgence of PED virus
All three countries have had its troubles with PED virus since it was first discovered in the U.S. in 2013, although the spread of the deadly virus has slowed in recent months.
 “We agreed that herd health is a critical component to the success of the industry and I’m pleased that we have a common interest in preventing a resurgence of PEDv as well as a need to keep this virus in control,” said Vincent.
Trans-Pacific Partnership
The Mexican, U.S. and Canadian producer representatives also discussed several others areas of common interest including the potential for Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations to open up additional export opportunities for the North American pork industry.
Key to those wishes shared by the three North American countries is the elimination of Japan’s gate price and tariffs on pork products.
“The single most important commercial issue before our producers is the elimination of the gate price in Japan and all tariffs on pork in every TPP nation,” said Howard Hill, President of NPPC. “We appreciate the importance of working together with our colleagues in the North American pork industry to attain these objectives.”
José Cervera, CPM’s treasurer and leader of the Mexican delegation, added: “The Mexican pork industry has made tremendous progress towards achieving the international health status which, together with TPP and other trade agreements, allows us to participate in the rapidly growing international pork market.”