Local Dairy Farmers apprehensive of new TPP trade agreement

The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement could give foreign dairy farmers 3.25% of the Canadian market.

While local dairy farm owner Frank Haasen says while he needs more information about the TPP, he says, “It’s not good news for Canadian dairy farmers.”

The Canadian market currently works on supply management which means farmers are compensated based on the cost of production. Haasen says this system maintains a “fair price for the farmer, fair price for the consumer.”

Stephen Harper says his government will provide billions of dollars in subsidies to make up for the lost revenue for dairy farmers.

The TPP trade agreement still needs to be passed by the 12 countries first before more details are revealed.