Taste-testing during a Canadian Beef Advantage Seminar in Shanghai in 2013. (Canada Beef via YouTube)

U.S. finalizes talks to resume beef exports to China

Chicago | Reuters — Final details are in place to allow U.S. exporters to resume beef shipments to China, U.S. officials said on Monday, allowing companies to prepare for their first shipments in 14 years. After concluding talks with Beijing, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said U.S. producers must track the birthplace of cattle born […] Read more

Australian countryside near Bendigo, northwest of Melbourne. (CIA.gov)

Beef makes the cut as Australia, China move to boost trade

Sydney | Reuters — Australia and China are expected to sign new bilateral agreements on beef exports, energy and security during a four-day visit by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang that began on Thursday. Li, the first sitting Chinese premier to visit Australia in 11 years, was welcomed to parliament in Canberra by Prime Minister Malcolm […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Brazil beef scandal leaves fewer options for global buyers

Chicago | Reuters –– Global beef buyers will likely need to cobble together supplies from several nations if a scandal persists in Brazil’s meat sector because supply constraints and politics are already limiting trade flows, market analysts said Monday. China suspended imports of all meat products from Brazil, the world’s top beef exporter, as a […] Read more

Le Botanique, a Brussels-area greenhouse facility repurposed as a cultural centre and live music venue. (CIA.gov)

Belgian regions set to block CETA over farm concerns

Brussels | Reuters –– Southern Belgium is set to block a planned EU-Canada free trade agreement, threatening to undermine the European Union’s entire trade policy and serving as a warning to British hopes of a speedy deal after Britain has left the European Union. EU trade ministers will vote in a week on the Comprehensive […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Mexico to accept OTM Canadian beef this fall

Mexico will resume “fully normalized” trade in beef products with Canada starting Oct. 1, accepting imports of Canadian beef from cattle over 30 months old (OTMs). The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and Canadian Meat Council announced the move in separate releases Tuesday, following a joint statement by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Prime Minister Justin […] Read more

(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

Argentine government to allow beef imports

Buenos Aires | Reuters –– Argentina will allow beef imports if the recent opening of the export market results in a domestic shortage of steaks and burgers, farm minister Ricardo Buryaile told local radio Thursday. The country lifted restrictions on beef exports after President Mauricio Macri, elected in November on an open-markets platform, was inaugurated […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Korea’s temporary ban on Canadian beef lifted

South Korea’s temporary ban on imports of Canadian beef and veal, imposed after Canada’s discovery of a 19th case of BSE in February, has been lifted as of Wednesday. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the Korean government’s decision Thursday. South Korea had re-imposed its ban on Canadian beef after the […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

JBS doesn’t see Brazil beef exports to U.S. before 2016

Sao Paulo | Reuters — Meatpacker JBS expects fresh beef exports from Brazil to the U.S. to begin no earlier than 2016, later than the Brazilian government predicted, CEO Wesley Batista said Friday. An agreement between the two countries was signed in June, when Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff visited Washington, but Batista said it would […] Read more