The Livestock Development Department recently announced that it would allow imports of boneless beef and beef products from Canada, ending a ban it had placed on those products in July 2003.

 The import ban was imposed to protect consumers from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) which was detected in a Canadian cow.

 Canada's beef industry has identified Thailand as a market for growth and importers have expressed an interest in Canadian products.

 Since the autumn of last year, the two sides have been exploring new business opportunities.

In close collaboration with industry, the government of Canada hosted technical exchanges with local officials that paved the way for Canadian beef exporters to take advantage of new opportunities in Thailand.

"The keen interest of our Canadian industry and Thai importers in making this a growing market for Canada has been very encouraging," said Chuck Strahl, minister of agriculture and agri-food and minister of the Canadian Wheat Board. - The Nation.

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China to reduce auto tariffs

China plans to reduce import tariffs on automobiles and auto parts to 25 per cent and 10 per cent respectively on July 1.

The Trade Negotiations Department reported yesterday that the reductions came after the US, European Union and Canada filed complaints with the World Trade Organisation against China's protection of its local automobile industry.

China focuses mostly on local content and discourages imported parts by imposing high import duties with an additional surcharge.

As a result, China's import tariff rate is higher than that it is bound to by an agreement with the WTO.

The US Trade Representative said that China did nothing special in this case and was obliged to do so with its accession into the WTO.

Thailand, as one of the major automobile and car part exporters, did not join the other countries to complain about China due to its low export volume and value.

- The Nation.