OTTAWA, ONTARIO — Meat groups, including the Canadian Meat Council (CMC) and Canadian Pork Council (CPC), complimented the signing of the Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
“This landmark agreement represents a significant opportunity for Canada’s meat industry to expand its presence in one of the largest and fastest-growing markets in the Indo-Pacific region,” the group said in its statement. “CMC has long supported securing meaningful market access in the Indo-Pacific, including Indonesia and Southeast Asian Nations FTAs. Since Canada’s exclusion from China, CMC’s chief executive officer has proactively advocated for new beef market access, leading engagements with Indonesian government officials and key stakeholders in Jakarta since 2022.”
CMC added that the new agreement would enhance the industry’s competitiveness and open new avenues of growth.
“We commend the inclusion of a robust Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Chapter, which is enforced by the Agreement’s dispute settlement mechanism and the creation of an ongoing SPS Dialogue to allow transparency and prevent SPS requirement from becoming non-tariff barriers,” the group detailed.
Indonesia has a population of around 279 million and a GDP of nearly $1.9 trillion.
“Moving forward, it will be essential to ensure that market access requirements, including halal certifications, and industry food safety audits are addressed promptly to facilitate commercially viable access,” the joint statement explained. “The Canadian Pork Council remains eager to find ways to serve this market as well with high-quality Canadian pork, all while respecting cultural traditions.”
The agreement also includes provisions that help with resiliency in supply chains, which remain crucial in the growing global market.
“The CMC looks forward to the swift implementation of the CEPA and remains committed to supporting the government of Canada in ensuring this agreement delivers tangible benefits for businesses and communities,” the groups stated.
