Tariffs could be removed on many agricultural products
By Diego Flammini, Farms.com
In an effort to continue establishing Canada’s role as an attractive trade partner when it comes to agricultural exports, the Canadian government established market access for beef in Ukraine.
The access applies to beef from cattle under 30 months and ready-to-eat meat; it comes after Ukraine banned Canadian beef in 2014.
"Our Government continues to work closely with industry to open, re-open and expand new markets for our quality Canadian products,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “Strengthening trade with Ukraine is another step towards ensuring producers can earn their living from the marketplace, and ultimately helps create jobs, growth and prosperity for all Canadians.”
The establishment of Canadian beef in Ukraine is another step being taken by Prime Minister Harper and Ukranian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in negotiating a Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement. Doing so will eliminate Ukraine’s tariffs on beef, pork, pulses, grains, canola oil, processed foods and animal feed.
"I am very pleased that the Canadian government has completed the negotiation of a free trade agreement with Ukraine,” said Joe Reda, President of Canadian Meat Council. “A survey of Canada's meat processors has confirmed the existence of significant long term interest in trade with Ukraine, not only as a supplier of high quality protein to Ukraine's 45 million citizens, but also in the context of Ukraine's access to the European Union and its trade with the countries of Eastern Europe.”
Canada and Ukraine:
- Total trade between the two was around $347 million from 2011-2013
- Canada exported $35.5 million worth of agriculture and agri-food products to Ukraine in 2014
- Ukraine imported $17.1 million worth of global beef in 2014