Saskatchewan beef producers say restored exports to China are great news

Saskatchewan producers welcomed the lifting of China's ban on Canadian beef, saying shipments have begun and the announcement follows a recent tariff agreement between Ottawa and Beijing.

Beef producers in Saskatchewan welcomed the restoration of Canadian beef exports to China, saying shipments have begun and the move provides more certainty after years of shrinking herds and tight margins. China suspended Canadian beef imports in 2021 after an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was found on an Alberta farm. BSE is a fatal brain disease in cattle, and atypical strains are reported as posing no health risk to humans. The lifting of the ban comes shortly after Ottawa and Beijing reached an agreement to reduce or remove tariffs on canola and other agricultural products. What we know: - China imposed a ban on Canadian beef in 2021 after an atypical BSE case was identified. - Atypical BSE is a fatal cattle disease and is reported as not posing a human health risk. - Saskatchewan was the second-largest cattle producer in Canada in 2021, accounting for more than one-fifth of cattle and calves, according to Statistics Canada. - Chad Ross, chair of the Saskatchewan Cattle Association, said restored trade is significant and noted that Canada exports about half of its beef production. - Saskatchewan's agriculture minister, David Marit, said the return of the Chinese market is likely to be reflected in prices and referenced recent effects seen after pea tariffs were removed. Summary: Producers say the restored access to the Chinese market should provide greater certainty after years of declining margins and shrinking herds. Details of the trade arrangement and next procedural steps are undetermined at this time.