Cattle group urges Ottawa to protect Canadian beef in Mercosur negotiations

May 28, 2026 | 2:19 PM

Canadian and Mercosur negotiators are meeting in Toronto this week for a key round of trade talks, with the Canadian Cattle Association working with the Canadian negotiating team.

The association is urging the federal government to reject any expansion of beef market access in a potential trade deal with Mercosur countries, saying it would pressure Canadian farmers and ranchers, weaken long-term food security and risk new trade tensions ahead of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement review.

CCA president Tyler Fulton said Canadian beef producers support fair, science-based trade, but beef cannot become a bargaining chip.

“Canada already imports more beef, proportionally, than almost any major beef-producing country in the world,” Fulton said. Expanding access for Mercosur beef would undermine Canadian producers at a critical time for our industry.”

“Canadian farmers and ranchers operate under some of the highest standards in the world for animal care, food safety, sustainability, and labour,” he said. “Our producers should not be economically penalized for maintaining high standards while competing against jurisdictions with significantly lower production costs driven by weaker standards.”

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In 2025, Canadian beef imports reached their highest level since 1993, accounting for about 30 per cent of domestic consumption. Imports from Mercosur countries have risen 238 per cent since 2021. The association said further import growth would discourage herd rebuilding and increase reliance on imported beef as producers recover from drought, rising costs and market instability.

The association has also raised concerns about the broader trade implications of a Mercosur deal with expanded beef access as Canada prepares for the CUSMA review.

Fulton said the association is concerned about the broader impact ahead of the CUSMA review.

“The United States remains Canada’s most important beef trading partner, and the federal government should be focused on strengthening North American trade relationships, not creating friction or concerns around backdoor access into the North American market.”

While it supports trade diversification, the association says any agreement must benefit Canadian producers and protect the long-term viability of the domestic beef sector.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

by Alice McFarlane

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Cattle group urges Ottawa to protect Canadian beef in Mercosur negotiations

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