Benchmark Magazine Article Archive

As noted previously, humans are most likely to be the ones to bring in the African swine fever virus into Canada, either by bringing in contaminated meat, or by travelling with the virus on their clothes, footwear and personal items. Although the virus does not infect humans, it is very deadly for the pigs who come into contact with it. The introduction of African swine fever into Canada would put over 100,000 jobs in jeopardy and cost the Canadian economy $24 billion dollars.

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a viral disease that causes high mortality in domestic and wild pigs. It, along with Classical Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease, is one of the Big Three highly transmissible diseases that would stop our export markets cold if identified in the United States or Canada.

Retaliatory tariffs from major U.S. trading partners are wreaking havoc with American agriculture and other sectors of the U.S. economy. Pork producers have taken a big financial hit because of punitive duties on their products.

The U.S. pork industry now is on three retaliation lists: two from China and one from Mexico.