Source: Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
With a federal election slated for October one of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA)’s market access recommendations is for the Government of Canada to maintain dialogue that progresses agriculture trade within Asia.
The CCA applauds the federal government for implementing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which has increased exports of Canadian beef to Japan. Asia will be the largest growth region for beef over the next 25 years.
Brazil announced last week that it had temporarily halted beef exports to China following an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Mato Grosso. As China is the largest importer of Brazil’s beef, the CCA will closely monitor any impact on Canadian exports of beef to China.
Also, as China deals with African Swine Fever in the pork sector, their demand for global protein to fill the shortfall is anticipated to be volatile. There remain many unknowns about how big the pork shortfall will be, although all indications are that it will be significant regardless of the exact amount, when that supply gap will hit the market – as larger pork production over the winter of 2018/19 along with ample supplies of pork in storage make this difficult to determine – and how much consumers will switch to available alternatives or reduce protein consumption. In all scenarios, China remains an important market.
Chinese authorities recently expressed intent to increase inspections of Canadian pork. We are confident in the quality and safety of Canadian beef and efforts to ensure compliance with all trading partners’ requirements. Canadian establishments continue to meet the importing countries requirements and constantly work to prevent such issues.
