CanadaB次元官网网址檚 beef industry is getting $8.3 million in federal funds, the bulk of it aimed at growing its international market reach as a trade standoff with China continues.
The money is going to six different projects, Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said Wednesday during a visit to the Calgary Stampede.
The biggest recipient is marketing organization Canada Beef, which is getting $5.3 million to grow sales internationally, in part by boosting foreign consumer confidence in CanadaB次元官网网址檚 product.
Bibeau said the announcement would have been made regardless of last monthB次元官网网址檚 news that China is shutting out exports of all Canadian meat after inspectors detected a restricted feed additive residue in pork. A subsequent investigation found forged veterinary health certificates attached to the batch.
B次元官网网址淚 want to assure you we are working around the clock to resolve the matter,B次元官网网址� Bibeau said. B次元官网网址漌e all want the same thing: to resume trade with China as soon as possible and our ongoing conversations with Chinese officials are encouraging.B次元官网网址�
Bibeau said her office is having almost daily conversations with Chinese officials.
B次元官网网址淲e have submitted a plan with short-term, long-term, medium-term measures to reassure our Chinese trading partner and we are hopeful they will re-open the market as soon as possible.B次元官网网址�
She said itB次元官网网址檚 premature to discuss compensation for affected beef and pork producers.
Michael Young, president of Canada Beef, welcomed the federal dollars.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 tremendous news as it comes at a time when the Canadian beef industry really needs the investment to get into the markets we need to get into and to work with the end-user customers that are really looking for our product.B次元官网网址�
He said China is CanadaB次元官网网址檚 biggest growth market next to Japan for beef. There is also double-digit growth in the southeast Asian market.
Young said he shares BibeauB次元官网网址檚 optimism that the Chinese ban will be short-lived.
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B次元官网网址淲e stand behind our system and itB次元官网网址檚 just a question of working with the Chinese regulators and officials to fully understand what happened,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漌e find with these foreign countries, usually itB次元官网网址檚 a two-part thing: they really want to know what happened and what are you going to do about it.B次元官网网址�
The Canadian CattlemenB次元官网网址檚 Association is getting $1.7 million from Ottawa to build public trust in their product globally through the Verified Beef Production Plus quality-assurance program.
Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press
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