Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island – Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was joined by the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Regional Minister for Prince Edward Island in addressing the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA) semi-annual meeting.
While in Charlottetown, the Ministers touched on several key issues, including the benefit of unfettered trade with the U.S., increased market access and trade successes such as the recently concluded negotiations on the Canada-Korea and Canada-EU trade agreements.
Minister Ritz again underscored the importance of ending the discrimination against Canadian cattle and hogs under mandatory U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), and the growing recognition that COOL continues to hurt farmers and industry on both sides of the border.
Quick facts
- Canada is the 8th largest beef exporting country in the world with annual exports of $1.3 billion in 2013. It is the largest sector of the Canadian food manufacturing industry.
- Canada and the United States enjoy a strong trading partnership in agriculture. In 2013, $45.6 billion dollars in agriculture was traded bilaterally between our nations, $3.3 billion of which was cattle and beef.
- Out of more than 9,000 EU tariff lines, approximately 98 percent will be duty-free for Canadian goods when the Canada-EU trade pact comes into force, including new market access giving Canadian farmers yearly duty-free access for up to 50,000 tonnes of beef.
Quotes
"Our Government is continuously working to support a strong and vibrant Canadian beef sector through our great collaboration with provinces and industry. Our proven track record shows that working together will ensure the global pathways for trade are free, fair and rooted in sound science."
– Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz
"Market by market, our Government is opening and reopening sales opportunities for Canada's high-quality, sustainably sourced beef. By doing so, we are giving Canada's innovative and productive farm and processing industries a competitive advantage in capturing vital new growth in the global marketplace."
The Honourable Gail Shea
– Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
"The CCA works very collaboratively with Minister Ritz and the Government of Canada on issues of importance to the beef cattle industry. This strong relationship has factored prominently in the many high profile market access successes of late and is vital when dealing with difficult matters like COOL. The CCA appreciates how much work the Minister does to open markets for Canadian beef and is always ready to provide support and technical expertise to ensure a successful negotiated outcome for Canada's beef cattle industry."
– CCA President Dave Solverson
Associated links
Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
COOL: Country of Origin Labeling
Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
