Beef exporting nations that are attempting to secure more trade opportunities say they are willing to share the winnings with newcomers.
Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and the United States make up the five nations beef conference and work together through their cattle producers’ associations to improve beef demand and topple trade barriers.
Uruguay and Argentina attended the most recent conference in Australia and are now deciding whether to join.
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says it is not threatened by the possible entry of these large beef-producing nations.
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“We’re free traders and if we need to let in some of their beef, that’s fine,” said CCA foreign trade committee chair Neil Jahnke.
The group hopes to be a formidable force when it comes to ending what it sees as unfair export subsidies and non-tariff trade barriers such as the ban on hormone treated beef in Europe.
Jahnke said working together could also result in more market penetration into Asian countries, particularly China.
“It’s definitely a long-term market but there’s also some short-term opportunities,” he said.
“It’s a huge market and we want it to be open and fair and free.”
Canada is already accepting beef and veal imports from Argentina and Uruguay. Most of it is manufacturing-quality meat used by processors.
South American trade
Between Jan. 1 and April 21, Agriculture Canada reported that Argentina exported more than 10 million kilograms of manufacturing beef to Canada. Uruguay sold 6.3 million kg, edging out Australia and New Zealand as major beef exporters to Canada.
Argentina has 49 million head of cattle and Uruguay has 10.7 million head. Both countries are free of foot-and-mouth disease, which kept them out of major export markets until now.
