Canada’s cattle industry is opposing the idea of a new trade deal with South America. Talks between the federal government and what’s known as the Mercosur bloc, which includes countries like Brazil and Argentina have really taken off this year. It’s very likely a free trade deal could be announced before the end of the year. What has our cattle industry concerned is that both Brazil and Argentina are major cattle exporters and they do it much cheaper.
Canada’s cattle industry is at its lowest level in roughly 40 years. Producers are in the early stages of rebuilding herds they were forced to cull in recent years because of drought. But the process can take 2 years or longer. Industry leaders say opening the market to outside imports would undermine their efforts. They also argue that expanded imports could threaten herd health and by extension, Canada’s reputation for excellent quality beef.
Consumers only care about what they pay for beef at the grocery store and in recent years, those prices have only been going higher. Canada’s food professor, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois says government are wrong to look at increased imports as a silver bullet and consumers are wrong to expect cheap imports will slash prices.
-With Files From Dean Thorpe-
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