Japan restores full market access to Canadian beef

After twenty years of trade restrictions, the last barrier to Canadian beef exports to Japan has been removed.

The federal government announced Monday the opening of processed beef into Japan, removing the country’s last BSE-era restriction against Canadian beef and fully restoring Canada’s access into this market.

“Cattle producers are grateful for the removal of trade barriers for processed beef in Japan, our second-largest export market for beef. Our industry will continue to support global food security by providing some of the most sustainable and highest quality beef in the world,” said Canadian Cattle Association President Nathan Phinney.

This expanded market access was made possible through efforts by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to remove BSE-era restrictions in countries such as Japan by demonstrating the high production standards, quality, and safety of Canadian beef.

“Our government will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our ranchers and processors who export the finest and most sustainable products around the world,” said Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Canada to further remove remaining trade barriers and expanding our trade capacity in the Indo-Pacific region,” Phinney added.

Canada exported an estimated $518 million in beef and beef products to Japan in 2022. Since 2017, Canadian beef exports to Japan have increased by 192 per cent as a result of expanded market access under the Comprehensive Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership.