One man likes it, two others don't

The Canadian government has signed the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, creating the largest-ever trading bloc.

The TPP includes Canada, the United States, Japan, Mexico, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, is made up of 800 million consumers and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of about $28 trillion.

While the TPP must still be ratified by every country involved (a process that will take months), candidates from the three major political parties contesting the Sault Ste. Marie riding in the current federal election campaign shared their initial comments on the trade deal with SooToday Monday. 

Would the TPP hurt our city's economy, particularly Essar Steel Algoma and Tenaris Algoma Tubes as they struggle with layoffs?

Would it mean, as some critics fear, more struggles with dumping of foreign steel products into Canada?

Bryan Hayes, Conservative candidate and incumbent Sault MP, dumped on that suggestion.

"How can opening a market that has 40 percent of the world's GDP, that eliminates tariffs on steel, be bad for our steel industry?"

"This is not going to compromise our steel industry," Hayes said.

"In fact…(there are) agreements in place with respect to steel from other countries that must be honoured...with respect to steel dumping."

"Our Conservative government has been incredibly supportive of the steel industry, the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) has endorsed our 2015 budget and has made reference to what we are doing to assist with respect to steel dumping."

Hayes also dumped on the NDP's proposed corporate tax hike.

"That's something our steel industry simply cannot absorb," Hayes said.

"This deal represents access to 40 percent of get world's gross domestic product, it removes tariffs for key Ontario exports including steel, as well as petroleum, chemicals, plastic, vehicles and vehicle parts, industrial machinery, pork, beef, vegetables, wine, it opens an economy of 800 million customers across 11 countries so it will protect and create jobs for Ontario, which is most important."

Both the local NDP and Liberal candidates were opposed to the Conservative government's signing the deal while an election campaign is underway.

"Tom Mulcair and the NDP were adamant this should not be agreed to while the election is in process," said Skip Morrison, NDP candidate (and Essar Steel Algoma employee).

"We (the NDP) would not ratify this agreement until we see full disclosure of it."

"The NDP is fully in favour of fair trade agreements, but we haven't seen very many that have been fair, and the TPP has too many dangerous implications."

"Trade deals are benefitting other countries and multinational corporations, they're certainly not benefitting anyone in Canada and Sault Ste. Marie for jobs," Morrison said.

"I think it's going to open the floodgates for more dumping."

"If there are disputes within this trade deal they are going to be decided by TPP arbitrators, not by the Canadian judicial system, and these arbitrators are not limited by the Canadian Constitution or Charter of Rights."

"It is completely one-sided…this deal, as we see it, is structured so that foreign companies can sue not just Canada but provinces, municipalities and First Nations but the foreign companies can not be sued in order to pay Canada, it's a completely one-sided arbitration settlement mechanism," Morrison said.

Like the NDP's Morrison, Liberal candidate Terry Sheehan told SooToday he would like to know more about the TPP's details.

"The Harper Conservatives have not been transparent throughout the entirety of the negotiations," Sheehan said.

"Canadians deserve to know what impacts this agreement will have on different industries across the country, so the federal government must keep its word and defend our interests during the TPP's ratification process."

"If the Liberal Party of Canada earns the honour of forming a government after October 19 we will hold a full and open public debate in parliament to ensure Canadians are consulted on this historic trade agreement…we need to shine a light on this," Sheehan said.

"We've got to make sure Sault Ste. Marie industries are not on the losing end of this  process."

"When it comes to trade, Harper's plan has failed, the Conservatives have had a trade deficit for more than 50 months, including every month this year, and they've tallied the largest trade deficit in Canadian history…we're not benefitting as much as the other countries are."

"I've heard a lot of negative comments about how the Prime Minister has brought this (trade deal signing) forward during an election process, people are concerned about this, and they've shared this concern with me as I go door-to-door," Sheehan said.

What is known about the TPP is that it would reduce or wipe out tariffs on a variety of products, from food to forestry products.

It would mean more foreign vehicle parts coming into Canada, perhaps good for consumers, but bad for some Canadian auto workers.

Many 'buy American' provisions also stay in place for our U.S. neighbours.

Meanwhile, a news release from Conservative candidate Bryan Hayes follows.

*************************

Harper lands biggest trade deal and improvement to our trade remedy system in history
 
“Today is a big win for our steel producers and dairy farmers here in Sault Ste. Marie. Not only did Stephen Harper secure a reduction in tariffs for our major producers and secured concessions for our dairy farmers, but he also negotiated a deal that has opened new economic markets representing hundreds of millions of new customers for Canadian exporters.”

“If the NDP and Liberals had their way, Canada would have been excluded from a deal that includes almost 40 percent of the world's economies. Furthermore, they would have compromised any opportunity for Canada to modernize our ability to fight and win cases where steel dumping is suspected.”

“Trade Agreements and the Trade Remedy System go hand in hand. Without Trade Agreements, there can be no Trade Remedy system."

“I’m proud that Minister Fast, Canada’s International Trade Minister, spoke directly with our steel producers to recommit to modernizing our trade remedy system as identified in Economic Action Plan 2015 and supported by the Steel Producers Association of Canada, of which both Essar and Tenaris are members.”

“This is a great example of the Conservative approach, where we consult first and then develop a policy, compared to the NDP and Liberal approach of developing policies that actually hurt our resource economy here in Sault Ste. Marie."

“This is a fantastic illustration of the choice for Canadians on October 19th. The choice is between a Government who has built Canada’s reputation on the world stage so strong that we can fight for and win major concessions from much larger economies. On the other hand voters have the protectionist policies of the NDP and Liberals, both of whom would have walked away from Canada’s seat at the table, leaving our steel producers and overall economy at a competitive disadvantage with almost half the world’s economies.”

“On October 19, I’m asking for your support. Vote Bryan Hayes.”

*************************