CMC discouraged by the access achieved for meat products in latest trade deal
Ottawa, ON – Yesterday, International Trade Minister Mary Ng announced that Canada has reached a market access agreement that will form the basis for the United Kingdom (UK) to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
This agreement will significantly impact Canada’s access to the UK beef, pork and veal market and is unwelcome news for Canadian federally licensed meat processors.
“The Canadian beef, pork and veal sectors have not benefitted from reciprocal access to the UK market in past agreements,” said Chris White, President and CEO, CMC. “Given the very negative experience with the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), CMC’s members want to avoid replicating that performance, which is a loss of market to a bilateral trading partner, without some corresponding and offsetting benefit.”
The biggest obstacles CMC’s members face are the UK’s non-science based insistence on hormone free beef and the non-acceptance of the Canadian meat inspection system, which is otherwise recognized through full systems approval by almost every country Canada exports to.
Today’s announcement of the UK’s accession to the CPTPP is a major step backwards in our goal of achieving reciprocity.
CMC has traditionally supported Canada’s negotiations with the UK to ensure cooperation and equal access to each other’s markets for the benefit of both country’s industries and consumers. Today’s outcome does not achieve this; instead, it leaves a significant barrier that doesn’t meet the standard of CPTP and results in no viable access for Canadian beef, pork and veal. CMC will continue to advocate on behalf of its members for fair market access.
Background
Canadian Imports/Exports of Red Meat Products with the United Kingdom
Beef
- The UK exported 2733 tonnes of beef valued at C$16.3 million in 2021 to Canada. For 2022, UK beef exports to Canada grew to 4414 tonnes for C$33.2 million. By contrast, Canada exported 657 tonnes of beef valued at C$7.6 million to the UK in 2021 and zero in 2022.
Pork
- The UK exported 1769 tonnes of pork valued at C$14.7 million to Canada in 2021, and 1299 tonnes valued at $10.1 million in 2022. By contrast, Canada exported only 36.7 tonnes of pork valued at $606,395 in 2021, and 13.6 tonnes valued at $217,500 in 2022
About CMC
The Canadian Meat Council represents federally licensed meat packers and meat processors as well as suppliers of goods and services to the meat industry. As an industry association, CMC provides advocacy on behalf of its members and works to secure and improve Canada’s global meat competitiveness. CMC also promotes a balanced diet which includes high-quality and nutritious Canadian meat. CMC provides services to its members with four key priorities: Regulatory Compliance, International Trade, Public and Stakeholder Engagement and Member Services.
For more information
Kristina Martin
(613) 882-8432
