Canadian Cattle Association Urges Ottawa to Protect Canadian Beef in Mercosur Negotiations

May 25, 2026

Toronto, ON—As Canadian and Mercosur negotiators meet in Toronto this week for a critical round of trade talks, the Canadian Cattle Association is on the ground to work with the Canadian negotiating team and ensure we get the best outcome for Canadian beef producers.

The CCA is calling on the federal government to reject any expansion of beef market access in a potential trade agreement with Mercosur countries, as it would put significant pressure on Canadian farmers and ranchers, weaken long-term food security, and risk creating new trade tensions ahead of the upcoming review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

“Canadian beef producers support fair, science-based trade, and at the same time, Canadian beef cannot become a bargaining chip,” said Tyler Fulton, President of the Canadian Cattle Association. “Canada already imports more beef, proportionally, than almost any major beef-producing country in the world. 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,” continued Fulton. “Our producers should not be economically penalized for maintaining high standards while competing against jurisdictions with significantly lower production costs driven by weaker standards.”

In 2025, Canadian beef imports reached their highest level since 1993, representing approximately 30 percent of domestic consumption. Meanwhile, imports from Mercosur countries have increased by 238 percent since 2021. The CCA warns that further expansion of imports would discourage herd rebuilding in Canada and increase reliance on imported beef at a time when producers are beginning to recover from years of drought, rising costs, and market instability.

Industry leaders have also raised concerns about the broader trade implications of a Mercosur agreement that includes expanded beef access, particularly as Canada prepares for the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

“We at the CCA are also concerned about the broader impact this could have ahead of the CUSMA review”, added Fulton. “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 supportive of trade diversification efforts, the CCA believes any agreement must deliver meaningful benefits for Canadian producers and protect the long-term viability of the domestic beef sector.

As negotiations continue in Toronto this week, the Canadian Cattle Association is urging negotiators to stand firmly behind Canadian farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, and reject any deal that compromises the future of our domestic industry.

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For further information, contact:

    Tina Zakowsky
    Communications Manager
    Canadian Cattle Association
    403-451-0931
    zakowskyt@cattle.ca

    Ariella Kimmel
    Communications Support in Toronto
    613-884-9125
    ariella@winstonwilont.ca

    For a PDF of the release, click here