Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that Canadian exports of beef and pork to China will be resuming.
But the word from the agriculture and trade ministers was more cautious, saying that they will be working with the Canadian exporters to resume trade.
It’s been about four months since China cut off pork, then beef, from Canada. It started when the Chinese found ractopamine restdue in a pork shipment from a Quebec business.
Then they found the Canadian Food Inspection Agency certificate for that shipment was fraudulent. A few days later officials said they had found more than 170 fraudulent certificates and that’s when China cut off both beef and pork from Canada.
Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and International Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr put out a joint statement saying their departments have been working with the CFIA and the embassy in Beijing to engage with China over the past few months.
"We will continue to work closely with beef and pork producers and processors in the coming days and weeks to ensure successful resumption of trade," they said.
The Canadian Meat Council said:
“Our long-standing trade relationship with China is very important to both sides and this represents an important step for both countries.
"This is great news, especially on the eve of an industry-led mission to China that CMC has organized to meet with Chinese officials at all key ports where product lands to ensure a smooth operation moving forward.”
The Canadian Meat Council said:
“Our long-standing trade relationship with China is very important to both sides and this represents an important step for both countries.
"This is great news, especially on the eve of an industry-led mission to China that CMC has organized to meet with Chinese officials at all key ports where product lands to ensure a smooth operation moving forward.”
