The Canadian Cattle Association hosted the third 2024 triannual trilateral meeting with industry leaders from the United States and Mexico last week to discuss some of the common challenges and opportunities facing the cattle sector.
Trade issues and relations were top among the topics being discussed with the upcoming review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC) set for 2026.
The group also discussing the impact of lab grown proteins as well as international engagement on antimicrobial resistance.
It was an important meeting as CCA President Nathan Phinney noted its crucial to meet with our friends to the south as the beef industry is highly integrated across North America.
"With the challenges that our sector is facing globally, we are stronger working together, to push back against non-tariff barriers and other unscientific international policies that impact beef producers."
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Mark Eisele was encouraged that all the groups continue to stand together as allies to tackle issues facing cattle producers across North America.
"In addition to discussing international trade and animal health concerns, I am also encouraged that CCA, CNOG, and NCBA continue standing together to push back against lab-grown proteins. These lab-grown protein companies are trying to capitalize from the incredible reputation of real beef in their efforts to sell ultra-processed products created in bioreactors. Together, we are working to ensure lab-grown proteins are properly regulated and transparently labeled to avoid consumer confusion with our products that are made with only one ingredient, beef."
Overall, the three groups (CCA, NCBA, CNOG) pointing out that through CUSMA, beef producers across all three countries benefit from the market-based demand for our beef product.
The Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas (CNOG) President Homero Garcia de la Llata says the North American trading relationship is key for Mexico.
"The North American trading relationship is key for our country. Mexico is growing in exports in the agricultural sector and specifically beef and cattle is competing with products like beer, tequila, and avocados."
The three leaders also looked at opportunities to work together against global challenges like non-tariff barriers in other jurisdictions and international commitments that impact the cattle sector.
They point out that despite recognizing antimicrobial resistance as an urgent global one-health threat, the North American beef sector is aligned and pushing back against unfounded antimicrobial reduction targets without considering sector specific needs.
The CCA, NCBA and CNOG agreeing that responsible antimicrobial stewardship is essential to supporting the health and welfare of cattle, which includes increased access to veterinary products.
The meeting was held in conjunction with the Canadian Beef Industry Conference last week, the next trilateral meeting is scheduled for San Antonio, Texas in 2025.