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Canada’s international trade minister got an earful Monday from Alberta farmers, ranchers and food exporters urging the federal government to ratify the trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Chrystia Freeland met with industry and government officials in Edmonton as part of national consultations on the 12-nation trade agreement inked Oct. 12 by the previous Conservative government after years of talks.

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“I just had a round table with people representing all different agricultural sectors — from canola to eggs to cereals to cattlemen,” Freeland said. “Around this table, there was a lot of strong expressions of support for the TPP. That’s a really important point of view that I’ll take back to Ottawa.

“Around this table, there were not a lot of concerns voiced around the TPP.”

Dave Solverson, president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, said he strongly encouraged the Canadian government ratify the deal because beef exporters see huge opportunity for expanding their Asian markets.