The United Kingdom has refused to budge on two non-tariff trade barriers it uses to keep Canadian beef out while its beef sales to Canada soar.
The Canadian Cattle Association is complaining to Ottawa, saying it should pressure the United Kingdom by keeping it out of the
Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement on trade.
The Canadian Cattle Association told Ottawa said the United Kingdom should first allow Canadian beef into its market based on science that reports that using a peroxyacetic acid wash on carcasses to eliminate E. coli food-poisoning bacteria is safe and effective and that hormone additives that improve beef production efficiency and carcass quality are safe.
The National Cattle Feeders’ Association, the Canadian Pork Council and the Canadian Meat Council support the Cattle Association lobby.
“In July 2023, the Government of Canada announced the accession of the U.K. to the CPTPP (Comprehensive Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) agreement,” the CCA’s recent release reads. “CCA, our provincial members, and beef producers across the country urged Canada to ‘say no to a bad deal.’
“Since then, the U.K. has not made any effort to address the non-tariff barriers that are keeping Canadian beef out of the U.K. market. At the same time, U.K. beef imports into the Canadian market have increased from $16.6 million in 2023 to $42.5 million in 2024.”
“In addition, the U.K. refuses to recognize full systems approval for our meat hygiene system, which is recognized as world class,” the association said.
