Canada and Ukraine have signed an agreement that reopens and maintains the Ukrainian market to imports of live swine from Canada and for the first time includes swine genetics.
A hog industry leader said the deal could be worth millions of dollars for Canadian live hog and genetics exporters.
“Ukraine has been trying to rebuild its swine herd and I would think this offers a significant opportunity for Canadian exporters,” Canadian Pork Council executive director Martin Rice said in a June 1 interview.
Representatives of the Canadian Swine Exporters’ Association could not be reached for comment before deadline.
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Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz announced the deal May 31. It was worked out by officials at a World Organization for Animal Health meeting in Paris.
The government says Ukraine imports $4.5 million in live purebred swine but it recently revised its import requirements, a move that threatened Canadian shipments. The negotiations produced a new export certificate that will renew Canadian access and add genetics to the mix.
Canada and Ukraine also are negotiating a free trade deal. Total food and agricultural exports from Canada currently are worth more than $22 million annually.
