May 4, 2012

Canadian pork industry boosts free trade deal with EU

In order to promote the importance of trade to the Canadian pork industry and highlight the benefits of an ambitious Canada-EU free trade deal, pork industry leaders have participated in a series of events across the country.

"We are extremely fortunate to have excellent animal health status, a good supply of high quality feed grains, a very low animal population density and a strong reputation all over the world as a supplier of safe high quality pork," stated Canadian Pork Council Chair Jean-Guy Vincent.

"Canada is a globally competitive and successful producer and exporter of pork and pork products. The key factor to sustaining our success is the ability to access a wide variety of markets."

An ambitious Canada-EU trade agreement would significantly enhance the sector's export opportunities as well as benefit workers, businesses and families who rely on the pork sector for their livelihood. Pork is the preferred meat among Europe's population of more than half a billion people.

There are no tariffs or quotas on pork imports to Canada. The Canadian industry, however, is seriously constrained from access into the EU due to such constraints as tariffs, tariff rate quotas, import permits and licensing requirements. Equivalency in access conditions for pork trade between Canada and the EU is one of the most promising opportunities to increase returns and to provide growth for hog producers and value-chain partners, including grain growers, pork processors and the many Canadian companies involved in the meat export trade.

"We look forward to successfully completing talks with the EU. This will provide the Canadian industry with the additional marketing opportunities that are needed to realise our long-run potential as a leading exporter of pork to the world and, as importantly, a return on our investments," added Vincent.

The CPC serves as the national voice for hog producers in Canada. A federation of nine provincial pork industry associations, our organisation's purpose is to play a leadership role in achieving and maintaining a dynamic and prosperous Canadian pork sector.