/EINPresswire.com/ -- OTTAWA, ON--(Marketwired - November 15, 2016) - On news that the Prime Minister of Canada will travel to Peru from November 19 to 20 to participate in the 2016 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' meeting, Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) President Brian Innes issued the following statement:

As the voice of Canadian agriculture and agri-food exporters, CAFTA encourages the Government to stand up for trade and send strong signals to its trading partners in the Asia Pacific region.

Threats to rip up NAFTA and trash the TPP send a chill down the spines of Canadians whose livelihoods depend on trade. And while the Trump administration's action plan is not yet clear, it is crystal clear that Canada's past and future depend on trade.

Prime Minister Trudeau can warm things up by promoting the Trans-Pacific Partnership and growth through trade at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting.

Throughout history with a small population and huge resources, Canada has been a trading nation and this isn't going to change. Fully 90 per cent of our farmers depend on exports and more than half of everything we produce goes beyond our borders.

Competitive access to global markets is not a choice, it is a requirement.

Canadian agriculture produces what the world needs and is well positioned to continue. But we can't thrive if trade barriers prevent us from being competitive with others who have preferential access because their governments have been better at reaching trade agreements, like Australia that already has agreements with Japan and China.

Canada needs to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers through free trade agreements. And there is currently no better plan than the TPP.

If the Trump administration turns its back on TPP, then Canada has an opportunity to lead like-minded countries on a new approach. While the current text of the TPP requires the US to participate, if they don't why not take the fruit from seven years of negotiations and make it work for the other eleven countries?

We've already seen how Canada can lead from by successfully signing the trade agreement with Europe. We can take some of the lessons learned and apply them to the TPP and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

Pundits were sounding the death knell on the European deal after Belgium threatened to scuttle the deal. But leaders standing up for growth through trade prevailed, and an accord that can benefit all parties is on its way.

We can do the same thing with TPP.

Eight out of the 12 signatories have the agreement in front of their parliaments, and Japan has already passed it in their lower house. Canada needs to follow suit and show that making trade freer based on 21^st century rules is the way to go.

Beyond the immediate advantages from TPP members, with other countries lining up to join the opportunities grow too. The Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia have all have expressed an interest in joining. With significant growth potential, better access to markets in Asia is more compelling than in other parts of the world.

When leaders stand up for free trade and explain the benefits to those who would block it, job creation, economic growth and community development are the proven positive outcomes.

It's not just farmers and food processors who benefit. Communities in urban and rural areas do better when we have better access to foreign markets.

Dominic Barton, Chair of Finance Minister Morneau's Advisory Council on Economic Growth has said that, if Canada re-captures third place in the world's top agri-food exporting countries, Canada's agriculture and agrifood sector could easily add $20 billion to our Gross Domestic Product. That's on top of the $106.9 billion the sector already contributes to the economy.

Canada needs to embrace freer trade in the Asia-Pacific according to 21^st century rules to fire up the engine that is free trade. Leading discussions on how to implement TPP and harvest prosperity from seven years of negotiation is a prudent path for Prime Minister Trudeau at the APEC meeting this week.

Brian Innes is President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA)

CAFTA represents farmers, processors and exporters from the beef, pork, grains, oilseed, pulse, soy, malt and sugar sectors. Together, they account for 90% of Canada's $50 billion agriculture and agri-food exports, supporting 940,000 jobs across Canada.