Canadian ranchers are urging the Canadian government to end the trade agreement with the United Kingdom post-Brexit. This move is part of a renewed effort to pressure the British government to lift barriers on Canadian meat exports and resume trade negotiations. Tyler Fulton, the president of the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA), emphasized the need for parliamentarians to support Canadian beef producers during a press conference on Parliament Hill.
Despite a significant increase in British beef imports into Canada, Canadian beef exports to the U.K. have been minimal in recent years, resulting in what many ranchers view as an unfair trade situation. The CCA reported a substantial rise in British beef imports to Canada, reaching $42.5 million in 2024, a 156% increase from the previous year. The total imports from January to August 2025 amounted to $32.2 million, marking a 19% increase from the same period in 2024.
Following Brexit, Canada initially maintained preferential trade terms with the U.K. under the Canada-Europe Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) until a new bilateral agreement could be established. However, ongoing regulatory differences, particularly concerning food safety standards, have hindered Canadian beef exports to the U.K. Canadian ranchers argue that despite aligning with U.S. regulations, their exports face barriers due to differing safety standards in the U.K. and the EU.
Fulton highlighted the U.K.’s non-compliance with the temporary continuity agreement and the stalled negotiations for a permanent trade deal. The CCA is pushing for a resumption of talks to address market access issues effectively. Efforts to reconcile regulatory disparities through scientific and technical committees have not yielded significant progress.
The recent push by Canadian ranchers coincided with the introduction of legislation to facilitate the U.K.’s entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade deal. While seven CPTPP member countries have ratified the U.K.’s entry, Canada delayed its approval without providing a specific reason. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Ottawa led to the announcement of forthcoming legislation to facilitate the trade treaty ratification process.
Fulton underscored the importance of upholding rules-based trade and resolving regulatory barriers to enhance market access for Canadian livestock producers. The potential ratification of the U.K.’s CPTPP membership could offer increased market access, provided regulatory issues are addressed. Discussions between the International Trade Ministers of Canada and the U.K. focused on enhancing bilateral trade and investment cooperation, with no clear indication of imminent bilateral trade negotiations.
While Canadian ranchers seek support for their industry, the Opposition Conservatives in Canada have historically favored strengthening trade relations with the U.K. The bill to formalize the U.K.’s accession to the CPTPP is pending debate in the House of Commons, as Prime Minister Carney outlined ambitions to boost trade diversification and double exports to non-U.S. markets over the next decade.