A years-long ban on Canadian beef exports to China has been lifted.
The move was announced by federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, after a recent trip to China. MacDonald says he has been made aware of a Canadian company shipping its first load of beef as early as next week.
Beef shipments from Canadian processing plants had been blocked by China since December 2021, after an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was reported on an Alberta farm. At that time, bans were also issued by South Korea and the Philippines, but those were lifted about two months later.
The decision to lift the ban follows the announcement of a landmark deal between Canada and China, which Prime Minister Mark Carney says will allow Chinese-made electric vehicles into the country in exchange for a reduction of tariffs on Canadian canola seed, and at least a temporary removal of tariffs on canola meal.
