Canada to move cattle to Philippines

The Government of Canada has announced new market access for live cattle exports to the Philippines, as well as sheep and goat genetics exports to Indonesia and the Philippines.

According to the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association, the export market of live cattle to the Philippines is estimated to be valued at $8 million, and exports of sheep and goat genetics to Indonesia and the Philippines add up to $100,000 annually.

The Philippines and Indonesia represent increasingly important markets for Canadian agri-food exporters and producers.

"Canada is building strong markets around the world which will benefit our farmers and food processors. These recent market access gains are setting the stage for deeper bilateral economic relations between Canada and the ASEAN region, and will contribute to our government's goal of reaching $75 billion in agri-food exports by 2025,” said Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

While the increased market access will advance the competitiveness of, and create new opportunities for, Canada's agriculture sector, the exports of Canadian breeding cattle and genetics will also contribute to rural economic development efforts of the Philippines in the agriculture sector.

"Increasing trade with fast-growing and dynamic markets such as those in the ASEAN region is an important part of our government's trade diversification strategy.  Securing new market access for Canadian businesses of all sizes creates jobs for the middle-class allowing them to compete and succeed in new markets around the world,” said Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification

The Philippines, Indonesia, and the wider ASEAN region are important commercial partners for the Canadian agriculture sector.

Canada exported over $325 million of agriculture products in 2017 to the Philippines and imported over $185 million.

As a group, ASEAN ranks as Canada's sixth-largest trading partner. In 2017, ASEAN had a combined GDP of $3.6 trillion and a population of 643 million.