November 25, 2010

Canadian beef producers gain access to EU market

Canadian beef producers have won duty-free access to a very lucrative EU beef market, where the arrangement will provide a 20,000 tonne beef export quota to the EU.

The Canadian Cattleman Association's John Masswohl said that Europe is one of the largest beef consumers in the world and this deal will help Canadian producers go from close to zero-market access to a share of 20,000 tonnes.

He said that number will rise over the next two years to 48,200 tonnes.

Federal Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz said the announcement could be worth more than CAD10 million (US$9.9 million) a year to Canadian beef producers.