Article content continued

Trade ministers meeting in Atlanta wrapped up a furious negotiating session earlier in the day for an agreement that will have enormous economic ramifications – including in sensitive sectors such as dairy and autos – and is sparking significant controversy in the home stretch of the campaign.

Anticipating potential concerns, Harper said “the decision for the next Parliament will be whether to ratify and implement or not,” and added that his party’s view is that “ this deal is without any doubt whatsoever in the best interests of the Canadian economy.”

He said the deal “frankly exceeded my best expectations.”

The Canadian government has agreed to make “limited” concessions on its supply managed dairy and poultry sectors that will allow more duty-free imports of products from TPP countries into Canada, but it has kept the pillars of the controversial supply management system intact.

To compensate Canadian dairy and poultry farmers for potential financial losses from the deal, the government is promising to invest $4.3 billion over the next 15 years in new income- and quota guarantees, and other programs to keep dairy and poultry farmers “financially whole.”

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or

“I know what the criticisms are, but the supply management system is the basis of the rural economy in significant parts of our country. Its continuity and stability is essential for those parts of our country,” Harper said.

The additional duty-free access to Canada’s dairy and poultry market for TPP partners will be granted through quotas phased in over five years, and amounts to 3.25 per cent of Canada’s current dairy production (with the majority of the additional milk and butter being directed to value-added processing); 2.3 per cent for eggs; 2.1 per cent for chicken; two per cent for turkey; and 1.5 per cent for broiler hatching eggs.