EDMONTON – Just north of Edmonton, Bon Accord cattle producer Colin Campbell proudly shows off his small operation as, at the same time, he talks about the challenges his industry faces.
“Our Canadian cow herd has been shrinking simply because we have limited or restricted access to the United States,” Campbell says.
The problems started in 2008, when the U.S. introduced Country of Origin Labelling, also known as COOL.
On the surface, the move was made to inform American consumers where their meat was coming from. But in Canada and Mexico, it was seen as protectionist.
“This process impeded our flow of trade which we were supposedly to have access to under NAFTA,” says Campbell.
“It was costing them too much.”
Some American packing plants decided against accepting Canadian beef or pork because of the additional expenses of identifying and separating non-U.S. product.
Canadian and Mexican producers appealed to the World Trade Organization.
“We have won four judgements against the United States and just recently we won a judgement by the WTO to impose retaliatory tariffs,” Campbell explains.
Campbell serves roles in both the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and Alberta Beef Producers.
The tariffs allowed by the WTO amounts to over $1 billion covering a range of American products. However, U.S. lawmakers are now looking to repeal the labelling requirements.
“And it drove up their total overall cost of production,” says Campbell.
READ MORE: Canada-U.S. trade war over meat labelling likely averted
“I’m looking forward to these changes,” Alberta Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier tells Global News, adding changes will help local producers.
“It will help them be able to access the markets more readily and be able to sell their products that much readily in the United States.”
For Campbell, the potential changes could mean restored confidence in an industry that’s so important to many Alberta families.
“I believe we are going to see a bounce back in the sector here in Canada,” say Campbell.
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