Interest in Canadian beef in European Union countries continues to grow and is an opportunity for Canadian producers to produce more EU beef.

CCA Report: Trade focus bears fruit for Canadian beef producers

From the January 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) focus on trade and market access priorities continued to bear fruit in 2018 and set the stage for a sustainable future for Canadian beef production. The events of 2018 created unprecedented opportunity for producers as we head into the new year. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) […] Read more

North American trade deal signed

Trade: News Roundup from the January 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Officials from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on November 30 as officials gathered in Buenos Aires for the G20 summit. Leaders have agreed on a deal in principle but legislators in all three countries still must pass the USMCA before it replaces NAFTA. Negotiations have been marked by discord, […] Read more


Unfinished business

Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer

I had a discussion recently with a trade expert from the Canadian Consulate in Denver. The occasion was a celebration of the conclusion of the USMCA. Our discussion revolved around getting rid of the steel and aluminum tariffs the U.S. had put on Canadian and Mexican exports of those products. That is the key to […] Read more

cattle in a feedlot

CCA Report: Good news to close out the year

From the December 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

On December 30, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will come into force among the first tranche of signatories to the agreement: Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore. Canadian beef producers will benefit from the first tariff cut in 2018 during the holiday season, a development that is sure to […] Read more


Undeterred by tariffs, U.S. beef exports were up nine per cent from a year ago seen January through August.

Tariffs remain irritant

Prime Cuts with Steve Kay

One word — relief — summed up the completion of a new trade pact to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. Agricultural leaders in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico all breathed deep sighs of relief after the three countries signed the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. That’s because the new pact leaves intact all the elements […] Read more

cattleman on a horse

CCA Report: Legislative update

From the November 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Canada’s participation in the USMCA agreement and continued progression of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) towards ratification have helped to alleviate a sense of unease for many producers at a crucial time in the beef cycle. The 2018 fall run got underway with assurances of uninterrupted access for Canadian beef and […] Read more


U.S. cattle hides take a tariff hit

U.S. cattle hides take a tariff hit

Prime Cuts with Steve Kay

The U.S. beef industry, like other sectors of U.S. agriculture, faces considerable losses because of the tariff wars between the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the European Union. The losses are not as severe as those seen in hog, corn and soybean production. But the tariffs imposed on U.S. beef products exported to China and Canada […] Read more

CCA Report: USMCA is good news

From the October 22, 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) congratulates Prime Minister JustinTrudeau and Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on reaching an agreement that preserves and secures the duty-free access upon which the Canadian beef cattle sector has built over the past 25 years. This is particularly important as we enter the time of year when the majority of beef […] Read more


Photo: @CanadaTrade Twitter

CPTPP trade agreement ratified

Canada will be among the original six and will gain some benefit from moving early

The last domestic legislative hurdle to enacting the CPTPP trade deal with Pacific rim countries has been cleared. The deal was approved by senate and received Royal Assent the afternoon of Oct. 25. The moves makes Canada one of the first countries to ratify the 11 nation deal which comes into effect once the first […] Read more

Comment: What was all the fuss about?

Whew. That was close. As I write this we are at the end of the first week after NAFTA supposedly freshened up and became the USMCA. I can’t imagine what your first impression was when you got the news. Mine was relief, followed quickly by confusion. Is this all there is? Other than the whipping […] Read more