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While Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China will likely focus on tariffs on canola, peas, pork and seafood, the Canadian Cattle Association is hopeful beef will be part of the discussions.
Association president Tyler Fulton said it’s important to note that beef exports have also been impacted, and that fact sometimes gets lost in the broader conversations.
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“Beef has been shut out of China since 2021. This has been a long-standing concern for us. When canola and pork were obviously impacted earlier last year, it landed pretty close to what our reality has been,” Fulton said. “We’re very much focused on trying to get that market reopened.”
Fulton said there is an opportunity to add value to cuts that are not in high demand in North America by selling to China, and it represents opportunities to improve whole carcass values.
“We’ve been in discussions with the federal government about our desire to get back into China, so I’m confident that beef is a part of that. I know that the prime minister’s office is aware of our concerns, and I’m optimistic that at least they’re talking,” he said.
Fulton said he believes the lack of access to China for Canadian beef is politically motivated.
“I think that it can’t be disconnected from all of the other geopolitical influences,” he said.
“In 2021, we were coming out of COVID, and I think technically that was the origin of the ban. But I think political reasons are probably the easiest explanation.”
Prior to the tariffs last spring, China was also a big customer for Canadian canola and pork products.
