The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is urging the federal government to end the Canada–United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA), saying the deal has failed to deliver fair market access for Canadian beef.
The TCA took effect on April 1, 2021 as a temporary bridge after Brexit. It was designed to keep trade flowing while Canada and the UK worked toward a permanent bilateral agreement. Those talks have since stalled, and the CCA says the UK has not met its commitments under the arrangement.
Market Access Concerns
At the heart of the issue are non-tariff barriers that continue to block Canadian beef. The UK still enforces the European Union’s long-standing hormone ban on beef imports, even after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled against it more than two decades ago. The UK has also refused to grant full systems approval for Canada’s meat inspection program — a standard recognized internationally as world-class.
While Canadian exports remain shut out, UK beef entering Canada has surged. Imports grew from $16.6 million in 2023 to $42.5 million in 2024, a 156 percent increase. Between January and August 2025 alone, imports reached $32.2 million, up 19 percent from the same period last year.
By contrast, Canada has exported no beef to the UK since the continuity deal came into force.
Calls for a Reset
The CCA argues that the current arrangement benefits the UK while leaving Canadian producers behind. It wants Ottawa to use provisions in the agreement to formally terminate the TCA and reopen new, science-based negotiations.
CCA President Tyler Fulton said the beef sector supports free and rules-based trade but needs genuine reciprocity. The association continues to offer support to the federal government to secure a deal that is transparent, fair, and grounded in sound science.
The CCA also notes that both governments pledged to work together on issues such as meat trade and biotechnology products. However, there has been little visible progress since those commitments were made.
Outlook for Canada–UK Beef Trade
For producers, the dispute highlights how non-tariff barriers can block access just as effectively as tariffs. With the UK advancing its entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the cattle sector is pressing Parliament to ensure Canadian agriculture remains competitive.
As Canada continues to diversify trade beyond North America, the outcome of this dispute could determine whether the UK becomes a missed opportunity or a renewed market for Canadian beef.
