China drops ban on Canadian beef

China has suddenly dropped its ban on Canadian beef, opening the possibility that exports will return to 2021 volumes when Canada shipped more than 20,000 tonnes to China.

The ban was imposed after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed its tests revealed atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy infected a cow.

Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald said the first export of Canadian beef to China could come as early as February.

Macdonald said the news that China would lift its ban on Canadian beef came abruptly.

“When the door opened, it opened,” he said.

MacDonald also said Chinese tariffs on Canadian pork were on the agenda in Beijing despite no movement on the levies.

“One of the issues we face with pork in China is that they produce over 90 per cent themselves,” the minister added. “There still is a market there for us, and we’ll continue to pursue that.”

Chia seeds on recall

Imported organic Chia seeds are on recall because the home country detected salmonella food-poisoning bacteria.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said there have been no reports of Canadians falling ill after eating the seeds.

                           

Tories say China trade deal falls short

 

The new trade deal with China falls short, said Conservative party agriculture critic John Barlow.

The deal on canola seed reduces China’s tariffs to 15 from 85 per cent starting Mar. 1, but lasting only until the end of the year.

The 25 per cent tariff on Canadian pork remains unchanged as do restrictions on cattle and pork genetics.

Barlow said it would have been better to completely remove the tariffs on canola seed, oil and meal and on peas.

Subsidy on offer for exporting

 

The federal and Ontario agriculture departments are offering $20 million to share in the costs of seeking more and new export markets.

The money will come from three avenues.

One is for market development and diversification planning to find new markets or to increase exports to existing markets.

The second is to support the development of new products and broader marketing strategies.

The third is for the investments in equipment and technology to support diversified products tailored to meet requirements to enter a new market.

“This investment will help our local farmers and agribusinesses sell more products grown in Ontario to markets around the world,” said Ontario Agriculture Minister Trevor Jones.

“Expanding markets for Ontario food products ensures farmers and food processors have more reliable export opportunities,” said federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald,

Hog disease outbreaks

Swine Health Ontario reportsd there have been recent outbreaks of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in a nursery barn in Huron County and a finisher barn in Perth County.

There have also been outbreaks of porcine deltacoronavirus in two nursery barns in Huron County.

Food inflation steadies

 

Food inflation held steady from November to December, but was up by five per cent from the year before.

Overall inflation was up by 2.4 per cent and was influenced by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s GST tax holiday in December of 2025.

Two food items remain far more expensive than last year: coffee and beef.

PED in Huron County

 

There has been an outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in a nursery barn in Huron County.