CALGARY – More foreign beef imports will be allowed into Canada despite protests from cattle producers and primary packers.
However, the announcement by agriculture minister Ralph Goodale last week that supplementary import quotas will be issued was greeted as good news by processors.
In 1994, processors paid more than $7.7 million in duties for meat imported over the tariff rate quota level of 76,049 tonnes under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
Most of this meat comes from Australia and New Zealand and ends up in hamburger patties and prepared meats.
Read Also
Why selenium is still an important factor in horse health
Selenium is an essential equine trace mineral that supports antioxidant defense, muscle integrity, immune function, metabolism and thyroid activity.
Bob Weaver of the Canadian Meat Council said processors who hold import quotas will be expected to use up most of their original allotment before applying for a supplement.
The offshore meat Canadian processors bring in must not fall below the average range of prices for the same product entering the United States.
American cattle producers are concerned the offshore meat will avoid American tariff quotas by entering the U.S. market through Canada.
A Canadian government news release said if price discounting occurs, supplementary import permits will not be issued.
Scott Zies, of Cardinal Meat Specialists in Mississauga, Ont., buys fresh Canadian meat every week and blends it with imported meat to make hamburger patties for fast food and retail markets.
He said there isn’t enough manufacturing quality beef in Canada so his company must look offshore. It is buying mainly lean, grass-fed cow meat from Australia and New Zealand.
“Some Canadian cow cuts are used in that business, but there just isn’t enough to satisfy the demand,” said Zies, a member of Alliance for Fair Trade in Beef.
The alliance consists of about 25 meat processors across Canada that fought to bring in more boneless manufacturing meat. He said processors do about $1 billion worth of business a year.
He questioned why Canada is willing to export prime beef at will, but deny imports. Annually, more than 40 percent of Canadian cattle are shipped to the United States.
Zies argues that slapping duties on over-the-limit imports could kill the incentive for the domestic processing industry.
Ken Cameron, president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, said beef producers are disappointed by the decision and they will have to learn to work with this sector. They will also monitor the imports closely.
