The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) congratulated Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President of the Republic of Korea Park Geun-hye for signing the final text of the Canada-Korea free trade agreement (CKFTA) in a special ceremony on Parliament Hill.
Signed during an official mission by Park to Ottawa, the agreement between Canada and the Republic of Korea comes just three months after the text of the CKFTA was tabled in the Canadian Parliament.
Under the terms of the agreement, the 40 per cent Korean tariff on fresh and frozen beef will be fully eliminated in 15 equal annual steps and the 18 per cent tariff on offals will be fully eliminated in 11 equal annual steps.
The tariff has been the main impediment to accessing the Korean market since Korea lifted its BSE prohibition on Canada in early 2012, said CCA President Dave Solverson.
“This is excellent News for Canadian beef producers,” said CCA Director of Government and International Relations, John Masswohl, who attended the formal signing ceremony on Sept. 22.
