Federal Agriculture Minister Marie Claude Bibeau and Minister of International Trade Mary Ng announced Canada has regained market access to Taiwan for beef exports.

Taiwan had restrictions on Canadian beef since 2003, following the discovery of Canada’s first case of BSE; restrictions were on both over and under 30-month Canadian beef, but both have since been lifted.

Ng says in a news release it’s great news for beef farmers as it provides an opportunity for expanded exports to a key market in the Indo-Pacific Region.

Bibeau says expanding trade relationships in the region is a top priority of the federal government.

Last year, Taiwan’s global imports of beef and beef products were $1.9-billion, with the top suppliers being the U.S. ($1-billion), Paraguay ($288-million), Australia ($280-million) and New Zealand ($172-million); Canada ranks 7th at $14-million.