Canadian beef back to Peru

Canadian exporters are now able to export bone-in beef under 30 months of age, boneless beef of all ages, and offal to the Peruvian market, which imported around C$49m of beef and beef products last year and is worth an estimated C$2m annually to Canadian beef producers.

The decision follows a visit by Canada’s International Trade minister Ed Fast to Peru in April, when Peruvian ministers said they would work towards lifting the ban. Ministers said the agreement will build on an already strong trading relationship between Peru and Canada, which have had a free trade agreement (FTA) in place since 2009 that eliminates tariffs on Canadian beef offal and on selected Canadian boneless beef cuts.

“Canada welcomes Peru’s decision,” said Fast. “Since our free trade agreement with Peru came into force in 2009, our bilateral trade has increased by more than 50%, and today’s announcement is clear proof of how deeper trade benefits Canadian workers and businesses.”

Peru re-opened the market to Canadian cattle earlier this year, giving livestock exporters access to a market worth an estimated C$2.5m. The only existing restriction in place is for bone-in beef over 30 months of age and ministers said that they were working with the beef industry and with Peru to restore access for those products.

Canada’s Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said: “This restored access shows how our government is working with industry to give Canada’s beef producers the ability to make their money from the marketplace, not the mailbox.

“The Harper government will continue to help farmers and processors find more market opportunities by opening, re-opening, and expanding export markets around the world.”