Industry urges the Canadian government to solve the “China file”

Canadian Pork Council: “The cost of the “temporary suspension” of Canadian pork and beef exports to China imposed on June 25 is approaching $100 million.”

Posted on Sep 06 ,09:24

Losing access to the Chinese beef and pork market has cost the Canadian meat industry about CA$100 million ($75.6 million)and puts jobs at risk, warns the Canadian Pork Council in a press release.
The industry urges the government to take action and solve the China file as it enters the third month of suspension and the Chiese importers establish arrangements with alternate suppliers, eroding the Canadian red meat market share in China.
The suspension come on June 25th, triggered by China Customs discovering a shipment of non-Canadian pork exhibiting technical irregularities and fraudulently certified as Canadian with falsified documents. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has provided China Customs with all the information and analysis requested to demonstrate that the source of the infractions was not Canadian. CFIA has also assured China of the strong mechanisms in place in Canada to ensure compliance with all of China’s technical requirements.
“It becomes clear that bigger political issues are the true obstacles that the Canadian government must resolve. We have been patient and respectful with the Government. But we are entering our third month out of China and as Chinese importers establish arrangements with alternate suppliers, it will be increasingly difficult for Canada to regain market share once the suspension is lifted. The financial investments made and commercial relations built to position Canadian meat in China are eroding daily and our global brand will be negatively impacted,” is explained in the press release.
CPC is also asking compensations or the millions of dollars lost by the Canadian farmers and exporters who have been the victims of the suspension and a clear, meaningful discussion on building export resilience.