Canadian exports expand to Philippines

 

 

Staff Writer

Farms.com

 

The feds announced new market access for live cattle exports to the Philippines on Monday, a same-day Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) release said. The government also announced sheep and goat genetics exports to Indonesia and the Philippines. 

 

Live cattle exports to the Philippines are valued at about $8 million, while combined exports of sheep and goat genetics to Indonesia and the Philippines will produce $100,000 annually, the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association said in the AAFC release. 

 

Wider market access for Canadian livestock will benefit the ag sector and, specifically, farmers. 

 

“On behalf of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council … we’re always excited when new markets are opened up and there is opportunity to export, whether it be live cattle or genetics, which provides value back to our primary producers,” Michael Latimer, executive director of the council, told Farms.com yesterday. 

 

“Any time that a country looks at improving their genetic base of their livestock, whether it be cattle or sheep or goats, that are better suited to their consumers and more environmentally efficient, I think it’s beneficial to see programs like (this) around the world.” 

 

The agreement “shows there is trust in our system of producing cattle and the genetics that we have (worked) towards over the last number of years,” Latimer added.  

 

Broadening Canada’s trade ties, specifically with markets in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, will result in greater opportunities for the Canadian agri-food sector to sell its products globally. 

 

“Canada is building strong markets around the world which will benefit our farmers and food processors,” said Lawrence MacAulay, minister of agriculture and agri-food, in the release. “These recent market access gains are setting the stage for deeper bilateral economic relations between Canada and the ASEAN region, and will contribute to our government’s goal of reaching $75 billion in agri-food exports by 2025.” 

 

Canadian cattle exports, and sheep and goat genetics exports will also benefit the Philippine’s ag sector by enhancing its rural economic development.