Dairy and Food Processing

Letter From Australia to Canada

4 February 2016

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland
Minister of International Trade
Canada‎

Dear Minister

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 4 February 2016, which reads as follows:

• In connection with the signing on 4 February 2016 of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (the Agreement), I have the honour to confirm the following understandings reached between the Government of Canada and the Government of Australia during the course of negotiation of the Agreement:
  • Canada confirms that Australian dairy products, including those imported under HS Chapter 3504 such as milk protein concentrates, can be utilised in dairy processing in Canada to the fullest extent possible, including in cheesemaking.
  • Nothing in this understanding is intended to derogate from any rights or obligations under the WTO SPS Agreement and the WTO TBT Agreement.
• I have the further honour of proposing that this letter, equally valid in English and French, and your letter in reply confirming that your Government shares this understanding, will constitute an understanding between our Governments which will come into effect on the first date on which the Agreement is in force for both Canada and Australia.

I have the further honour to confirm that the above reflects the mutual understandings reached between the Government of Australia and the Government of Canada during the course of negotiations on the Agreement, and that your letter, equally valid in English and French, and this letter in reply constitute a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Australia and the Government of Canada that will come into effect on the date on which the Agreement enters into force for both Canada and Australia.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Robb