Mexico deal ‘breakthrough’ in Canadian heifer exports

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Published: April 3, 2008

Canada’s beef industry is hailing a Mexican agreement that will allow breeding heifers born since Jan. 1, 1999, to be imported into Mexico.

The United States has agreed to allow them to be transported through the U.S. to Mexico.

As recently as February, Mexico said it would restrict imports to heifers younger than 30 months.

Under the deal announced March 27, exported heifers will have to receive a health certificate from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and import permits from both the U.S. and Mexico. They also will be subject to inspection in the U.S. and Mexico.

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In a March 28 statement, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association president Brad Wildeman praised agriculture minister Gerry Ritz and CFIA staff for their work on the issue.

“All parties acted quickly to help resolve this matter and we have confidence in our leadership,” he said. “This agreement should serve as a model for dealing with North American trade issues.”

Ritz announced the deal after a day of talks in Washington, although at first it appeared to be simply a deal that would allow transport of young heifers through the U.S.

“Last month, Mexico officially announced it was allowing imports of dairy and beef heifers under 30 months of age,” said Ritz in a late-day March 27 telephone news conference from Washington.

“This is very good news for Canadian livestock exporters and an important step in restoring full market access with all of our trading partners. Today, we have gone one step further, finalizing an agreement to allow Canadian cattle and livestock to be shipped through the U.S. and into that Mexican market.”

The next day, CCA international relations director John Maswohl confirmed that the most important part of the three-nation deal was Mexico’s agreement to revert to the Jan. 1, 1999, cutoff for heifers.

“That is the important breakthrough,” he said.

In Washington, agriculture secretary Ed Schafer issued a statement lauding the fact that the three members of the North American Free Trade Agreement have found a way to work with the science-based rules of the World Animal Health Agency (OIE) that have labelled both Canada and the U.S. “controlled-risk” countries for BSE.

The agreement announced in Washington follows controversy after the Jan. 1, 2008, full implementation of the 1994 NAFTA because it appeared Mexico was offering better access for Canadian cattle than for American cattle.

In response, some American states, including Texas, said they would not allow Canadian cattle to be transported through their territory on the way to Mexico.

Last week’s deal gives the U.S. the same access and ensures that ground transport of Canadian cattle through the U.S. to Mexico will be allowed.

Mexico is the second largest market for Canadian beef, importing almost 78,000 tonnes before BSE hit in 2003. That year, it fell to less than 30,000 tonnes.

Since then, Mexico has gradually opened its market and the Canadian Beef Export Federation reports 2007 sales of 40,100 tonnes.

But market rebuilding efforts have been hampered by continued Mexican refusal until now to allow breeder animal imports.

Ritz said last week’s agreement was an “important win” in the battle to return North American trade to pre-BSE levels.

“This agreement harmonizes North America to OIE standards for trade in bovine breeding animals,” he told reporters.

“This is good news for the livestock sector, which will now be able to ship our world-class bovine breeding stock anywhere in North America.”

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