China, Philippines ban Canadian beef

The confirmation of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in an old Alberta cow that died last fall has prompted China and the Philipppines to join South Korea in banning beef from Canada.

Dennis Laycraft of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association said he expects the bans to be temporary and to have little impact on Canadian cattle markets.

China is a significant export market for Canadian beef and cattle, but pales in comparison with the United States which takes about 70 per cent of Canadian beef exports. The Philippines is a minor market for Canadian beef and cattle.

Canadian beef and cattle exports amount to more than 40 per cent of production and go to more than 60 countries.

Last year Canadian beef exports were robust, increasing by more than 25 per cent beyond the record set in 2019 at $3.1 billion.