June 6, 2006

Canada beef to reduce reliance on US by exporting to more countries

The Canadian beef industry is branching out into Asia as more countries are beginning to lift their ban on Canadian beef after mad cow disease was detected in the country in 2003. 

Thailand, the latest country to lift bans on Canadian beef, is a shot in the arm for Canada's negotiators who are hoping to persuade Indonesia and Malaysia to do the same as well, Canada Beef Export Federation President Ted Haney said.

Even so, there is still the larger Asian markets of South Korea, Taiwan and China, which have kept restrictions in place.

Although the Canadian beef industry was hit hard by restrictions, it has largely been sustained by the US, who has since lifted its ban.

Canada's industry plans to cut its dependency on the US market to 50 percent by 2015, from more than 80 percent today, Haney said.

Canada is also in talks with Russia, and Haney said he expects restrictions to be lifted soon.