It seems likely that Mexico will lift its ban on Canadian
beef this week in return for Canada lifting its visa requirement for Mexican
visitors.
Mexico banned Canadian beef in May, 2003, after the first
case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE, or mad cow’s disease) was
confirmed in Alberta.
Most other countries have lifted their ban on Canadian beef
from cattle younger than 30 months.
Mexico has been Canada’s third-largest buyer of beef.
Ironically, Canadian beef prices that were plunged to huge
loss levels for farmers in 2003 are now near a long-term peak as supplies are
tight.
