Canadian Beef Heads to China After Import Ban is Lifted

Canadian beef will be exported to China following the relaxation of an import ban that had been in place since 2021, the agriculture minister said, though analysts cautioned the shipments will likely be limited in volume, Ed White reported for Reuters.

The move is not expected to have an immediate or major impact on Canadian beef exports or domestic prices.

The reopening of what could be a vital market for Canadian beef follows a visit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who reached an agreement with China’s leadership to reduce tariffs and expand trade in several agricultural commodities, including canola.

“We know that there’s a large company shipping its first load of beef to China next week,” Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald said.

The reopening of what could be a vital market for Canadian beef follows a visit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who reached an agreement with China’s leadership to reduce tariffs and expand trade in several agricultural commodities, including canola.

“We know that there’s a large company shipping its first load of beef to China next week,” Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald said.

Earlier, he wrote on social media that “China has lifted market access for Canadian beef.”

China is an important market for certain cuts of beef, making the reopening significant for Canadian farmers and beef exporters.

However, the move is not expected to have an immediate or major impact on Canadian beef exports or domestic prices, as North America is facing a shortage of beef and prices are historically high.

Sylvain Charlebois, a food market expert known as The Food Professor, said: “China reopening or expanding access for Canadian beef won’t move food prices in Canada in any meaningful way.

The volumes involved are relatively small, and Canada simply doesn’t have the scale to divert large amounts of beef away from the domestic market without disrupting other exports first.”