April 12, 2010

Colombia reopens market to Canadian beef

Colombia's recent decision to reopen its market to Canadian cattle imports makes it the first country in South America to do so since 2003.

Effective immediately, Canadian exporters are eligible to export to Colombia all cattle born after Aug 1, 2007.

"This is great news for our cattle industry, as we continue to work to ensure full access to important markets across the Americas," said Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade.

"Improving access to international markets is extremely important for adding value to Canadian cattle," said Travis Toews, president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association. "We appreciate the tireless efforts of the government to promote Canadian cattle and eliminate barriers."

The Colombian market for Canadian beef exports is worth about CAD6 million (US$5.96 million), according to estimates by the Canada Beef Export Federation. The process began in the spring of 2009 when the minister of agriculture and agri-food, Gerry Rtizm, travelled to Colombia and secured a process to demonstrate the safety of Canadian beef.

In March, Van Loan tabled legislation to implement the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. With the implementation of this agreement, key Canadian exports that will benefit from immediate duty-free access to Colombia include live cattle, wheat, barley, lentils, peas, and selected beef cuts.

Both countries already enjoy a good trade relationship, with two-way merchandise trade totalling CAD1.3 billion (US$1.29 billion) last year.