Agricultural issues remain the last sticking point in concluding a Canada-European Union trade deal by summer, the EU ambassador to Canada said last week.
Matthias Brinkmann told reporters at a May 9 Europe Day event that the lingering Canadian demand is for more beef access.
He said the EU has offered 40,000 tonnes or more of hormone-free and antibiotic free beef imports.
“The Canadians want more.”
The Canadian side said the number has not been formally offered and would be unacceptable.
The lingering European demand is more access for dairy products, including cheese and yogurt, said Brinkmann, although he did not offer a tonnage demand.
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He said difficult issues are left to the end in most negotiations.
“Like in most negotiations, it is agriculture that is most difficult.”
Still, Brinkmann predicted a deal could be struck, although he said negotiations with the United States and Japan are stretching the EU’s attention span.
“We are quite satisfied it (Canada-EU talks) is progressing and we are hopeful we can conclude it in the short term, hopefully before summer,” Brinkmann said in unusually candid comments about an ongoing negotiation.
On agriculture, he said the issue is that Europe restricts beef imports because of the sensitivity of some EU beef-producing countries, while Canada protects its dairy industry.
“So we have to have a certain give and take,” he said.
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association president Martin Unrau said the 40,000 tonnes access offer has not been discussed with the industry.
“We have a number in mind as a minimum and that does not come close,” he said.
“But that number of 40,000 has not come up officially, so I don’t know where it comes from. It certainly does not represent adequate access as we see it.”
Unrau would not reveal the number that his industry is demanding for a successful negotiation.
“We have talked to the prime minister, (trade minister Ed) Fast and (agriculture minister Gerry) Ritz and they know what we need,” he said.
“For Canada, beef is and has to be an important part of any final deal.”
Canadian exports are typically less than 10,000 tonnes under existing EU rules.
The Europeans demand hormone-free beef and offer Canada a limited portion of a small quota on beef imports.
Any deal that increases Canadian beef access will require that it meet European anti-hormone standards.
