More BC beef to appear on European plates once CETA deal is signed
Posted October 27, 2016 9:47 pm.
Last Updated October 27, 2016 9:53 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – It appears the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the Canada-Europe free trade deal, will be sealed, after a region of Belgium held back its support last week.
The BC beef industry is eager to reel in the benefits.
When the deal comes into full force in seven years, 95 per cent of European Union agricultural tariffs will be eliminated, which is very good news for Canadian producers.
Kevin Boon with the BC Cattlemen’s Association says the faster the tariffs can come down, the faster our industry can compete with other beef producers like Australia and Brazil for the same market.
He says Europeans already have a taste for Canadian beef but they pay a premium for it. Once the tariffs come down, it will wind up on more plates.
“They know we produce a quality of beef that they are looking for. We are able to produce very safe, high-quality meat with good flavour and it’s what they’re used to.”
Boon says they haven’t quantified yet how much the agreement is worth to the local industry, but points out some plans are already in the works.
“We are doing a business plan for a packing plant in BC that would work in conjunction with what is already in existence.”
He says Canadian beef is already making inroads in the Chinese market – and that the next target market is Japan.
