Canada-Japan Trade Agreement Positive for Beef Industry

CALGARY, March 25, 2012 /CNW/ - The National Cattle Feeders' Association (NCFA) is encouraged by the prospects of a Canada- Japan Economic Partnership Agreement that is expected to create more opportunities for the export of Canadian beef.

Asia is vital to the growth of the Canadian beef industry and "enhanced access to off shore markets, especially in countries like Japan, will help propel the growth of our beef herd, which has shrunk to 1997 levels", says Bill Jameson, Chairman of the NCFA. Japan is currently Canada's fourth largest export market for Canadian beef and accounts for 10% of Canada's agri-food exports, making it the second largest export market after the USA.

A Free Trade Agreement with tariff free access should result in additional exports of high-value Canadian beef to Japan. In 2010 Canada exported 17,175 MT of beef to Japan but the potential is much larger, considering the 30,000 MT of Canadian beef that reached that market in 2001.

Canada exports over one third of its domestic beef production, making exports critical to the success of the sector and the thousands of jobs in the value-added feed and processing industries associated with beef.

"We whole-heartedly support Prime Minister Harper and his government for their work in opening markets around the world and look forward to realizing the benefits that will arise from a Canada-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement," concluded Mr. Jameson.

NCFA is a federation of provincial cattle feeder associations whose member are a vital link in Canada's beef value chain.

Bill Jameson
Chairman
[phone]

Bryan Walton
General Manager
[phone]