The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) reiterates that our integrated North American meat industry, with cross-border trade exceeding USD 16 billion annually, is crucial to the economic well-being of Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, supporting jobs and communities, particularly ones in rural, agricultural areas, across our three countries.
We urge government officials to prioritize dialogue and seek a balanced solution that preserves the benefits of our deeply integrated supply chains. At stake are thousands of jobs, billions in economic activity, and the competitiveness of the North American meat sector on the global stage. The CUSMA agreement, which came into effect in 2020, has strengthened our economic ties and provided new market opportunities for agricultural products. Any disruption to this carefully crafted framework risks undermining the progress we've made in creating a more resilient and competitive North American meat industry.
It is imperative that legitimate concerns regarding security and other cross-border issues are appropriately addressed using fora designed for those purposes and that efforts to resolve these concerns are not contingent upon concessions that would undermine the integrity of our integrated supply chains.
Canadian agricultural exports are largely made up of inputs, which directly support U.S. exports to the world. This includes things like fertilizer (potash), pigs, cattle and other livestock, meat for further processing and equipment. Roughly 70% of Canadian goods exported to the United States are used in the production of other goods.
CMC remains committed to fostering collaboration, reducing trade barriers, and enhancing information exchange within North America. We call on all parties to return to the negotiating table and work towards solutions that strengthen our shared economic future.
