CFA pleased with re-opening of Chinese market for Canadian beef and tallow

OTTAWA - The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) was pleased to learn that the Government of Canada has reached a Cooperative Agreement with China that will allow for staged access of Canadian beef and tallow into the Chinese market. Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with Chinese President Hu Jinato to sign the agreement in advance of the G20 Meetings in Toronto on June 24th, 2010.

"This agreement is great news for Canadian cattle producers who have been faced with rising input costs and uncertain economic factors," said Ron Bonnett CFA President. "Increased market access has been a top priority for years and the CFA commends our government for working with the Chinese government to secure this agreement."

The first stage of the agreement will see China resume imports of tallow and boneless beef from cattle under-thirty months (UTM) of age. Both Canada and China have agreed to further official discussions in the near future to allow for full access of Canadian beef. According to the Canadian Cattlemens Association, once full access is restored, this will represent an additional $110 million in annual export for Canadian cattle producers.

This agreement makes Canada the first country to restore trade with China following a case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). BSE was first discovered in an Alberta cow in May 2003 and it resulted in the closure of world markets to Canadian beef to many major markets including China. Many of these markets have recognized Canada's science based solutions to dealing with BSE and have since reopened their borders. About the Canadian Federation of Agriculture Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations, national and inter-provincial commodity organizations, and cooperatives from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.