Canadian beef to enter Chinese market again

01-Feb-2026

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Canada is set to resume beef exports to China after a years-long ban that shut down a major overseas market, a move some Alberta producers say comes at a critical time as national cattle supplies remain low and beef prices stay high.

The ban was imposed in late 2021 after an atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, was detected on an Alberta farm.

John Smith, who operates Plateau Cattle Co., near Nanton, Alta, said, “It’s always good news when a new market is made available to us.”

“As we can see with the world’s geopolitical landscape, tariffs on, tariffs off, I think it’s great to have increased market access across the world.”

He said China fills a specific niche for Canadian producers by purchasing cuts that are less in demand domestically.