The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) notes with interest the provisional implementation of the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA). As of today, European beef is duty free in the Canadian market and new duty-free quotas will be available for Canadian beef entering the EU market.
The Canadian beef industry has long supported the CETA and its massive market potential based on the elimination of EU import tariffs and resolution of technical barriers. Today’s implementation marks achievement of the tariff side of the equation by creating new duty-free access on nearly 65,000 tonnes of Canadian beef.
Regarding the ongoing technical barriers, the CCA continues to work with the Government of Canada and the Canadian Meat Council to achieve meaningful Canadian beef access to the EU. Research and advocacy efforts are underway, but until they reach a successful result it will be difficult for Canadian beef cattle producers to adopt cattle management practices required by the EU. Once these issues are resolved, the EU market has potential to become a $600 million annual customer for Canadian beef under CETA. This is a many-fold increase over the $6 to $10 million of Canadian beef annual exports to the EU we have experienced in recent years.
The CCA anticipates a timeline of approximately two years to complete the efficacy research in Canada and achieve formal recognition by the EU of Canada’s meat safety protocols. The CCA remains confident that through working together and with a commitment of resources and transitional assistance from government, we can get the job done.
Meanwhile, we expect that any EU beef or veal imported into Canada will be verified to be in full compliance with Canadian food safety requirements.
Source: Cattle.ca