As global demand for Canadian beef continues to climb, Ottawa is investing more than $4 million to help the industry strengthen its foothold in key export markets.
On July 8 during the Calgary Stampede, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald announced the funding is being provided through the federal AgriMarketing Program, part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
AgriMarketing is a government initiative that helps Canadian agriculture and food businesses promote their products at home and abroad, which operates under the broader Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year federal-provincial-territorial framework that funds programs to support the competitiveness and sustainability of Canada’s agriculture sector.
Canada Beef will receive up to $3.74 million from 2026 to 2028 to increase awareness and demand for Canadian beef and veal among domestic and international customers. The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) will receive up to $300,000 during the same period to support trade advocacy, strengthen relationships with foreign decision-makers and promote science-based international trade rules.
The CCA said its portion will help cover international travel by staff and producer representatives. Planned activities include engagement in the U.S. and Mexico, participation in trade missions to South Korea and other Indo-Pacific markets and attendance at meetings held by organizations such as the World Trade Organization, Codex Alimentarius and the World Organisation for Animal Health.
The association also participated in the June 23-26 Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan. The mission brought close to 300 delegates representing approximately 175 organizations to Tokyo, with agriculture and agri-food among its priority sectors. Japan is a major importer of Canadian beef and Canada’s third-largest overall agri-food and seafood export market.
The funding comes as Canadian beef export values continue to rise. Beef and veal exports reached $5.31 billion in 2025, up from $4.93 billion in 2024, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada data. The CCA estimates the combined value of beef and live cattle exports reached approximately $7.3 billion last year, with more than $6.3 billion shipped to the U.S.
Through May 2026, Canadian beef and veal exports were valued at $2.37 billion, an increase of 13.5% from the same period last year. The U.S. remained the largest destination at $1.76 billion, followed by Mexico at $194.4 million and Japan at $146.7 million. Exports to China reached $127.7 million after the market reopened to Canadian beef earlier this year.
CCA President Tyler Fulton said the federal support will allow the organization to use producer checkoff dollars more effectively while ensuring cattle producers are represented in international policy discussions.
The AgriMarketing Program represents a $129.97 million federal investment from 2023 to 2028. Ottawa has also committed another $75 million over five years beginning in 2026-27 to encourage further export diversification.
