Friday, July 27, 2012 -
Canadian meat exporters will boost beef sales to Kazakhstan by as much as $1 million per year in a deal worked out between the two governments, Canada’s agriculture ministry said Thursday.
Under the terms of the agreement that took immediate effect, Canada’s beef producers can sell boneless beef from animals over 30 months of age to Central Asia’s largest market.
The deal follows an earlier inter-governmental agreement that authorized the Canadian beef industry to sell beef from animals less than 30 months old.
"We've enhanced our trading relationship with Kazakhstan by supplying world-class beef to a market of strategic importance, giving producers the opportunity to compete for sales in this country," Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said in a statement.
Ritz said that the agreement gives Canadian producers equal access to Kazakhstan’s beef market that Russia has.
Kazakhstan and Russia recently formed a tripartite customs union with Belarus sharing a common economic space without customs restrictions.
The Canadian government is currently negotiating new import requirements with the post-Soviet customs union to provide for long-term uninterrupted trade.
Kazakhstan purchased almost $14 million worth of agricultural and agri-food products from Canada last year.