Canadian cattle producers have received immediate access to export markets in Qatar and Honduras for beef and live animals.
The federal government announced Oct. 15 that Qatar has approved all Canadian beef imports and Honduras has ended border restrictions imposed in 2003 when BSE was first found in Canada.
The latter is a result of the Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement.
A government news release said the Qatari market value could reach $2 million annually in beef sales. The Persian Gulf country is one of the world’s wealthiest.
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In Honduras, Canada has increased its trade by 10 percent since 2007, according to government figures, and in 2013 Canada exported goods worth $578 million. About $88 million of that was in agricultural goods.
The federal government says the two deals are expected to create jobs and increase prosperity in Canada.
Canadian Meat Council president Henry Mizrahi said in a news release that Qatar in particular is an attractive market.
“Not only does Qatar have one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, Qatar imports more than 90 percent of its food requirements,” he said.
“The Canadian meat industry appreciates and welcomes the successful negotiation of full beef access to the Qatari market.”
Michael Latimer of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council said Honduras represents another market for cattle and genetics “and an additional avenue to demonstrate the safety and superior quality of Canadian cattle genetics to the world.”
