Canada’s lead cattle industry lobby is celebrating the latest small beef market opening in Colombia as a victory in a broader march toward full international market access.
On April 8, federal trade minister Peter Van Loan announced that Colombia had become the first South American country to accept Canadian beef since the 2003 BSE incident.
It agreed to accept cattle younger than 30 months effective last week. The Canada Beef Export Federation says the potential market is $6 million annually, a small portion of the country’s multibillion-dollar beef export industry.
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But Canadian Cattlemen’s Association president Travis Toews said every new market adds value to Canada’s beef industry.
“We appreciate the tireless efforts of the government of Canada to promote Canadian cattle and eliminate barriers.”
The Colombia announcement came after more than a year of negotiation. Agreement in principle came almost a year ago when agriculture minister Gerry Ritz visited and won Colombian approval of a process to verify the safety of Canadian beef.
In January, Colombia said it accepted the results of Canada’s food inspection and safety system.
In a news release announcing the market opening, Van Loan suggested it could set a precedent for other countries in the region.
“This is great news for our cattle industry as we continue to work to ensure full access to important markets across the Americas,” he said.
Ritz vowed to keep prying open markets.
The Conservative government suggests this commodity specific and limited deal could signal other trade opportunities. Some opposition MPs are holding up legislation that would implement a Canada-Colombia free trade agreement, arguing it rewards a country renowned for human rights abuses.
Van Loan noted that if approved and implemented, the deal would eliminate duties on live cattle, wheat, barley, lentils, peas and some beef cuts.
As some opposition MPs manoeuvre to delay a vote on the legislation that is supported by the Conservative and Liberal majority, the government is threatening to impose limits on the debate.
Many agricultural lobby groups embrace the Colombia free trade deal as a benefit for their producer members.
