A new study suggests the Canadian pork industry needs this country to be part of any Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.
Canadian Pork Council Chair Rick Bergman says the study looked at being part of the deal and not being part of the deal.
According to the study, being part of the agreement could see a rapid increase in exports to Japan and/or open access to other export markets.
Not being part of the deal would see a significant decline in the value of Canadian pigs and the sector would see a decline of almost 40 per cent in the volume of pork exports to Japan.
Bergman says other markets cannot make up for the loss of Japan because the value of Canadian pork in Japan is so much higher than most other markets.
The value of Canada's pork exports to Japan in 2014 approached 1 billion dollars.
65 per cent of Canada's pork exports are to Trans-Pacific Partnership countries.
The study was done for the Canadian Pork Council by Kevin Grier Market Analysis and Consulting.
