The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) is calling all Parliamentarians to support better access to world markets as continued trade uncertainty threatens Canadian jobs and long-term prosperity.

The group held an end-of-session press conference Thursday on Parliament Hill.

“With unprecedented uncertainty around NAFTA, there’s never been a better time to break down trade barriers so we can diversify and grow our agri-food exports,” said CAFTA President Brian Innes.

CAFTA says while this legislative session saw progress with the implementation of the Canada-Europe Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), it's calling on the federal government to stay focused on advancing the following outstanding trade priorities in the coming weeks and months:

- Work swiftly to ratify and ensure Canada is one of the first countries bringing into force the Comprehensive Progressive agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP);

- Continue to constructively engage at the NAFTA negotiating table to ensure Canadian agri-food exports maintain existing access to the U.S. market and to modernize the deal where possible;

- Launch trade talks with China and deepen the Canada-China trade relationship; and

- Remove remaining non-tariff barriers to allow real, commercially viable access to the EU for Canadian agri-food products.

“Our ability to access global markets is more important than ever and should be job number-one for the federal government,” stated Innes. “We are calling on the Canadian government and all Parliamentarians to stand up for Canadians who are growing the economy through trade.”