Three area ranchers are leaving this week on a trade mission to China. They estimate that our Pacific Rim neighbour is poised to be a large importer of beef but they will have competition so face-to-face meetings are being held.
"The Chinese are looking pretty positive at Canadian beef now. We think we have some openings coming. One of the big things on our agenda is to try to beat the Americans into that market," said Mark Grafton, the Prince George director on the BC Cattlemen's Association. He, BCCA past-president Roland Baumann of Vanderhoof and Larry Garrett of Vanderhoof are all booked for the trip, representing cattle producers.
B.C. Minister of Agriculture and Lands Steve Thomson, plus other B.C. interests and beef lobbyists from Alberta and Saskatchewan will be part of the junket.
"We will be in China for five days, booked almost to the minute, it's going to be a gruelling trip," Grafton said. "We are going to Japan for two days, and we will be joined there by the federal minister of agriculture as well."
Grafton said it is essential for the long-term prosperity of the Canadian beef industry to rely less on the American market. About 40 per cent of the beef produced in Canada gets shipped to some other country, but 70 per cent of those exports goes into the U.S. That puts Canada's beef industry at the mercy of American trade policy and the U.S. dollar.
China is seen as an antidote to over-reliance on the Americans. They have a large population that is growing wealthier and turning more to beef meals.
"I think there is huge potential there. We are riding somewhat on the shirttails on the good work the forest industry has done to increase lumber sales there," said Grafton. "I have talked to lumber people who have gone (Prince George Mackenzie MLA), Pat Bell has been very helpful in setting this up with us."
Grafton said he was not yet sure what the reception would be in China and Japan to their trade proposals, but making initial contacts is part of what this trade mission is about. He is confident that the safety measures Canada has implemented, plus the advancements in crop and animal science and the strong acceptance of the beef industry within Canada makes for a strong case in their favour.
"We are a sustainable commodity," he explained. "We are creating proteins derived from grass so that is a big advantage for our industry. We use cattle to create a high quality protein out of common forages."
The mission to China and Japan is one of the key items on the agenda of the B.C. Cattlemen's Association executive meetings that are going on in Prince George this week.
