Cattle groups want the Canada-UK Continuity Agreement tabled over beef trade barriers

A national cattle group wants the Canada-UK Continuity Agreement terminated.

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) made the request to Ottawa following the tabling of the UK Accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) legislation.

In July 2023, Ottawa announced the accession of the UK to the CPTPP agreement.

CCA, provincial cattle groups and beef producers across the country were upset with the deal and started the campaign “Say No to a Bad Deal”.

CCA President Tyler Fulton said since then, the UK has not made any effort to address the non-tariff barriers that are keeping Canadian beef out of the UK market. While UK beef imports into the Canadian market have increased from $16.6 million in 2023 to $42.5 million in 2024.

“We are calling on all Parliamentarians to stand up for Canadian beef producers. In these uncertain geopolitical times, we need every opportunity to diversify our markets,” Fulton said.

The continuity agreement between Canada and the UK was set up as a bridge after Brexit—with a commitment to conclude negotiations on a formal bilateral agreement within three years of the trade continuity agreement (TCA), which came into force April 1, 2021. The UK then walked away from bilateral negotiations.

Fulton said the UK’s non-tariff barriers are not compliant with the World Trade Organization (WTO), who ruled against the EU Hormone Ban in December 1997, which the UK continues to apply to Canada.