The Canadian Meat Council says it supports the recently announced shared vision for perimeter security and economic competitiveness between Canada and the U.S.

“We have a long history of working very closely with our colleagues from the United States. Our industry is truly a North American one with many of our members operating farms and meat-processing facilities on both sides of the border,” president Brian Read said in a release.

Canada’s meat industry is the largest of the food processing industries employing some 67,000 people and with gross sales of over $21.4 billion. In 2009, Canada exported 378,000 tonnes of beef valued at almost $1.3 billion to 71 countries. Of that total the United States of America is by far the most important, with Canadian beef exports totalling 293,000 tonnes valued at $960 million.

In addition, in 2009 Canada exported just over one million tonnes of pork valued at over $2.6 billion to 114 countries. The highest tonnage – 329,000 tonnes of pork valued at $835 million – was exported to the United States.