Jack M. Mintz: TPP should raze forest protectionism – Financial Post
June 29, 2015
Log export restrictions do not improve economic performance
With fast-track approval by the U.S. Congress, President Obama moves ahead with one of his most important initiatives of this second term: the negotiation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). For Canada, a successful conclusion of the TPP will mean access to markets with 792 million people and $28.2 trillion in GDP, 40 per cent of the world economy. It would be a successful step to diversifying our trade with the U.S., Japan and growing emerging economies.
No doubt our pathetic supply management policies for dairy, poultry and eggs will be under the microscope. Virtually no argument can be given in favour of a policy that hits most heavily the poor with higher staple product prices, circumscribes the export of dairy and other products due to high input prices and undermines our ability to participate in new trading partnerships. Australia and New Zealand have successful dismantled their policies, resulting in these two countries becoming major exporters of dairy products as well as leading to a more efficient agriculture sector and ultimately lower consumer prices.
Read More: http://business.financialpost.com/fp-comment/jack-m-mintz-tpp-should-raze-forest-protectionism
