Canadian Meat Sector Pushes for Trade Certainty Amid Labour Crunch

Why It Matters

Trade certainty and a stable regulatory environment are critical to keeping Canadian meat prices affordable, protecting domestic jobs, and sustaining export growth amid global competition and labour shortages.

Key Takeaways

• Canadian Meat Council seeks 16‑year flat USMCA renewal.
• Opposes mandatory country‑of‑origin labeling, warns of higher consumer prices.
• Requests Mercosur beef imports limited to lean trimmings only.
• Calls for inspection equivalency with Brazilian and Argentine facilities.
• Emphasizes trade certainty essential amid domestic labour and supply constraints.

Summary

The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) chief, Kyle Larkin, used a recent industry forum to press for greater trade certainty as the sector grapples with a looming labour crunch and volatile international markets. He highlighted the council’s core demand: a 16‑year flat renewal of the USMCA/KUSMA agreement, arguing that stability would safeguard the roughly half of Canadian beef and two‑thirds of pork that are exported.

Larkin warned that new mandatory country‑of‑origin labeling (COOL) could push meat prices higher, echoing studies cited by U.S. industry groups. He also outlined a nuanced stance on Mercosur beef, urging the government to allow only lean trimmings from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay while blocking additional primal cuts that would undercut domestic producers. To ensure safety, he called for accelerated inspection equivalency visits from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to South American plants.

The council’s arguments were bolstered by recent political anecdotes, such as President Trump’s brief opening of U.S. borders to foreign meat and his swift reversal after industry pushback. A joint letter from Canadian, U.S., and Mexican meat associations will be sent to lawmakers, reinforcing the push for a long‑term USMCA renewal and a coordinated response to COOL proposals.

If successful, these measures could preserve price affordability for North‑American consumers, protect thousands of Canadian processing jobs, and maintain the integrated supply chain that underpins the sector’s competitiveness in markets like China and Europe.

Original Description

With trade negotiations, labour shortages, and food affordability all under the spotlight, Canada’s meat processing sector is navigating a complex operating environment. For an industry that exports roughly half of its beef production and nearly two-thirds of its pork production, international market access remains critical.

In a conversation with RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney, Kyle Larkin, president and CEO of the Canadian Meat Council (CMC), outlined several of the key issues facing the sector. He noted the importance of maintaining the integrated North American supply chain as discussions around the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement continue.

“We export about 50 per cent of the beef we produce, about 65% of the pork we produce,” Larkin says. “So everything happening in the US, China, Indo-Pacific, in Europe, has a real impact on the sector here in Canada.”

On trade with South American countries through a potential Mercosur agreement, Larkin said the CMC is urging the federal government to protect Canada’s domestic beef industry while allowing access to lean beef trimmings that are used in ground beef production.

Labour remains another major challenge. According to Larkin, many processors are operating below capacity because they cannot find enough workers.

“Most of my members come to me and tell me they're only able to operate at about 70 to 80% capacity because they don't have the people to actually fill these shifts,” he said.

The industry is advocating for a permanent agri-food immigration stream following the expiry of the Agri-Food Pilot program. Larkin added that labour availability is also influencing investment decisions, even as some processors look to expand facilities and increase domestic processing capacity.

Website: https://www.realagriculture.com/

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