It appears Canadian beef is headed back to China after years of being shut out, following a new trade agreement between Ottawa and Beijing aimed at easing tariffs and restoring market access for several key agricultural products.
According to Canadian Press report Tuesday. Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald said he’s aware of a Canadian company shipping its first load of beef to China next week under the new agreement. China has also reportedly purchased a cargo of Canadian canola for delivery in March.
The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) welcomed the news, calling the restoration of access long overdue after Canadian beef was wrongfully shut out of the Chinese market in 2021.
“We are pleased to see renewed access into China, one of the largest export markets for beef,” said CCA President Tyler Fulton. “Every market matters to Canadian beef farmers and ranchers; it supports our industry’s resilience and growth.”
Fulton said Canadian beef continues to be in strong demand globally due to its quality and safety standards, and credited both Prime Minister Mark Carney and MacDonald for prioritizing export-driven agriculture as part of Canada’s broader trade diversification strategy.
The CCA said it will continue working with federal officials to better understand the details of China’s reopening, including any potential safeguard measures that could apply.
China halted all Canadian beef imports in December 2021 following Canada’s detection of an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Prior to the suspension, exports of Canadian beef into China had been steadily growing.
Canada and China struck a deal Friday that will see China lower or eliminate tariffs on several Canadian agricultural products, including canola, in exchange for Canada lowering its levies on Chinese EVs.
