Canada-Beef for Hong Kong market.

CANADA-HONG KONG OPEN FOR CANADIAN BEEF.

Just recently, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz reached a new beef trade agreement with Hong Kong. Ritz says the deal is a breakthrough for beef exporters and immediately expands key export opportunities for Canadian beef.

The new agreement sets out a time table to open Hong Kong to all commercially significant Canadian beef exports. Canada will ensure high quality and safety standards are met. The Canada Beef Export Federation estimates deal could almost double shipments to Hong Kong. The agreement is something the Canadian Cattlemen’s Assocition is in favour of. The CCA goes into greater detail in the following news release:

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) applauds the federal government for securing an agreement, in-principle, for the sale of Canadian beef to Hong Kong. Based on a staged compliance process, by yearend, it significantly expands Canadian beef producers’ access to the Hong Kong market for commercially-viable exports of beef.

CCA President Brad Wildeman, who joined federal agriculture minister, Gerry Ritz, on the Hong Kong trade mission, says that the agreement is a win for both countries. "It significantly improves the bottom line for Canadian producers, and provides Hong Kong families with access to high-quality, safe Canadian beef.

also sends a strong market signal of Canada’s serious intent to re-open and expand commercially-viable trade of Canadian beef to other nations, worldwide."

The first stage of the Hong Kong agreement allows most bone-in beef products (excluding vertebral column cuts, plus rib cuts from cattle under thirty months of age). After complying with Hong Kong’s requirements during an initial fourmonth, phase-in period, it allows in exports of rib cuts, boneless beef and offal from all Canadian cattle.