Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz travelled to Russia last week with livestock sector representatives but did not win a reprieve from that country’s ban on livestock products treated with ractopamine.
However, industry deals were made during the trip, which included time in Kazakhstan.
In Russia, Genesus signed an $8 million contract to supply 6,500 breeding swine.
And in Kazakhstan, Exports International signed a deal to export $3 million worth of purebred cattle.
However, agreement on the biggest issue — Russia and the region’s ban on products treated with ractopamine — eluded Ritz.
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He told a teleconference call May 23 that he pressed Canada’s case against the ban on products treated with the common drug when he met with new Russian agriculture minister Nickolai Federeov.
“I raised the issue of Russia’s new ban on ractopamine, which is having a negative impact on Canada’s pork and beef exports,” Ritz told reporters.
“Russia is a very important market for us, but there are challenges and that’s why we’re here.”
He said the Canadian message was that the Russian import ban is not based on sound science.
“I strongly expressed Canada’s disappointment that despite our collaborative efforts over the years, the Russian government has moved forward with this measure that is not based on sound science,” Ritz said. “Our government will continue to work aggressively along with our Canadian industry to restore beef and pork access into the valuable Russian market.”
Canada exported $563 million worth of agricultural and food products to Russia last year.
Exports to Kazakhstan were worth $21 million, including $7 million worth of purebred cattle. It is Canada’s largest market for purebred cattle.
Ritz said he also made clear that Canada’s support of Kazakhstan’s bid to join the World Trade Organization will depend on the country’s trade rules.
“I underlined that membership in the WTO requires that their trade must be based on science and fair trade,” he told reporters.
“This applies to the ractopamine issue and any other non-scientific trade barrier that may come up.”
