Ottawa, ON – John Barlow, Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Stephanie Kusie, Conservative Shadow Minister for International Trade, released the following statement in response to the Liberals’ announcement of spending $4 million on beef export marketing through the AgriMarketing Program:
“Canadian beef is recognized around the world for its quality and sustainability. The challenge facing our producers is not convincing customers to buy Canadian beef; it is convincing this Liberal government to fight for Canadian ranchers at the negotiating table.
“Yesterday’s announcement is an allocation from the AgriMarketing funding envelope that had already been announced earlier this year. While support for market development is welcome, marketing dollars cannot compensate for poor trade policy or the Liberals’ failure to secure meaningful market access.
“Canada’s beef industry is one of our country’s greatest agricultural success stories. It supports more than 347,000 jobs, contributes over $50 billion to Canada’s economy and generates billions of dollars in exports every year. Producers have done their part by building a world-class reputation. They deserve a government that will do its part by ensuring Canadian beef can actually reach the markets that want it.
“Instead, Liberal trade policy continues to leave Canadian producers at a disadvantage. Canadian beef exports to the United Kingdom remained effectively non-existent throughout 2024 and into 2025 because non-tariff barriers continue to block meaningful access. At the same time, UK beef exports to Canada increased from $16.6 million in 2023 to $42.5 million in 2024, an increase of 156 per cent. A massive beef trade imbalance also continues to exist with the EU due to unresolved non-tariff trade barriers.
“The government’s approach to Mercosur raises similar concerns. Mercosur beef imports have increased by 238 per cent from 2021 to 2025, with 70 per cent paying the existing tariff. There is no market opportunity for Canadian beef in Mercosur. Yet, the Liberal government insists on rushing into a trade deal at the expense of our cattle sector, jeopardizing our valuable North American beef trading relationship in the middle of critical CUSMA negotiations.
“Canadian cattle producers are not asking for handouts; they are asking for a government that will stand up for them, insist on fair and reciprocal trade and stop treating agriculture as a bargaining chip in international negotiations.
“Canadian ranchers already produce the best beef in the world. They need a government that is just as committed to selling it as they are to producing it.”