OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Meat trade associations in Canada expressed dissatisfaction with a recent decision by the country’s Minister of Trade to grant the United Kingdom admission into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The Canadian Meat Council (CMC), Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) and the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) all asked its Parliament to reject the proposal.

“The CPTPP has, until now, provided a high standard for trade liberalization, but this agreement with the UK leaves a significant barrier in place,” the Canadian meat groups said. “It does not meet this standard of open trade and will undermine ambition with future entrants.”

The three associations stated that the UK does not accept Canada’s meat inspection system and that current tariffs lack reciprocity.

“The inclusion of the UK without adequate safeguards and market access provisions for Canadian pork raises concerns about potential imbalances and unfair competition,” said Stephen Heckbert, executive director of the CPC. “We strongly urge the government to address these issues promptly and ensure Canadian pork producers are not disadvantaged in this new trade landscape.”

The groups noted that British beef and pork have full access to the Canadian market but that’s not the case for Canadians sending products to the UK.

“Canada’s red meat sector has traditionally been vocal in its support of free trade,” Christ White, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Meat Council. “Fair and open market access has allowed both the beef and pork industries to thrive, so our opposition is not something we have entered into lightly or without consideration.”

The meat groups noted that during the last two years, the UK exported more than 7,000 tonnes of beef to Canada, while Canada exported 657 tonnes to the UK in 2021 and zero in 2022. 

In the pork sector, the UK shipped 1,300 tonnes of pork valued at $10 million in 2022, while Canada shipped zero to the UK.

If the UK is added to the CPTPP, the meat groups are asking the Canadian Parliament to fairly compensate producers and processors for damages and losses over the decision.

On July 15, Mary Ng, the Canadian minister of international trade, issued a statement welcoming the UK into the CPTTP.

“In 2021, Canada was the first member to support the UK’s accession to the CPTPP,” Ng said. “As Canada’s third-largest trading partner, the UK is one of our closest partners, helping advance our commitment to open, predictable and inclusive rules-based trade.”

Current members of the CPTPP include Canada, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.