Canada's recent BSE negligible risk status helps position Canada in export markets as a provider of world-class beef products at a competitive price point. Over the last 10 years, our Canadian live cattle exports have seen tremendous growth, from $1.4 billion to $4.5 billion. Not surprisingly, demand from the United States is behind much of that growth.
While this is a good news story for our industry, there is concern about Canada's dependence on the American market and our need to diversify our trade. Thus, our concerns on trade barriers fall into two categories: long-standing trade irritants with the United States, and persistent non-tariff trade barriers with our free trade agreements around the globe.
The cattle industry is a tremendously integrated North American market. Significant numbers of live cattle cross the border back and forth every day, destined to fill either a feedlot in the United States or Canada, or go into a finished market in both countries. In 2021, over 375,000 head of U.S. feeder cattle were brought into Canada from the United States. That's an increase of 247% since 2017.
However, there are multiple requirements at the border that negatively impact commerce as well as the welfare of live cattle. For example, cattle moving across the border in either direction need to be inspected by a certified vet at the country of origin and destination. Once the vet has inspected the cattle, the inspection reports then need to be sent up to CFIA and USDA. That can often take a week or more. This appears to be a duplication in the system. If we trust our certified veterinarians who provide inspection reports when the cattle are loaded onto trucks and sealed, why do these reports need to go up for further inspection before they can be moved?
In addition, the USDA has been reducing the time and location of certified veterinarians at the border crossings, causing significant issues with trucks crossing the border. We're now concerned with potential voluntary country of origin labelling again in the United States. A change in the “Product of USA” labelling regulations could result in higher costs for consumers at the grocery store. We need to advocate that together we are stronger and more resilient.