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By Paul Richard Harris, Axis of Logic
Axis of Logic
Monday, Oct 5, 2015
The various countries that have been negotiating in secret an international trade deal known as Transpacific Partnership (or TPP) have reached an agreement. Now that some of the details are emerging, it is clear there are winners and losers. Writing from here in Canada, we appear to be at the top of the loser list.
The negotiations will result in costs to Canadian taxpayers of at least $4.3 billion to compensate farmers who will lose in the deal. And once that compensation has been paid, the farmers will still be losers on an ongoing basis. Canadians will see increased prices for several commodities, some of which are already priced higher than most of the world.
Canada also is facing a national election on October 19, with the polls currently showing close to a dead heat between the three main parties. The current government (Conservative Party of Canada) faces a tough selling job for the TPP agreement. The biggest giveaways in the deal affect the dairy, poultry, and auto sectors - most of which is concentrated in Québec and Ontario, the two provinces with the most votes, and the places he is most vulnerable.
If Prime Minister Stephen Harper is able to convince those sectors that he hasn't really sold them down the river (as it presently appears), he will likely win the election. If he fails to persuade those sectors, and others who have been against this deal from the outset, his tenure as prime minister will be over.
The deal will need to be ratified by each of the signatory countries - a prospect that is far from certain.
© Copyright 2015 by AxisofLogic.com
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