Following a successful inspection last September by Ukrainian authorities, 15 additional Canadian beef and pork establishments are now eligible to export to the country, bringing the current total to 27, the press release said.
Access to the Ukrainian market for Canadian beef and pork is estimated to be worth up to $50 million annually.
Ukraine's global imports in 2014 were $17.1 million for beef products and $193.6 million for pork products.
According to the press release, Canada is committed to strengthening commercial ties with Ukraine and securing improved market access for Canadian exporters.
Last July, Canada and Ukraine successfully concluded negotiations toward the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA). The two countries are currently undertaking the legal review of the negotiated text, and once it is signed, both parties can undertake their respective domestic implementation processes, the report said.
Once fully implemented, the Agreement will result in the elimination of all non-agricultural tariffs and the vast majority of Ukraine's agricultural tariffs, including on Canadian beef, certain pork, pulses, grains, fish and seafood, canola oil, processed foods, and animal feed.
Total bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Ukraine is expected to expand by 19% as a result of the implementation of the CUFTA.
During the talks on a free trade agreement between Ukraine and Canada, the former managed to negotiate an asymmetric liberalization of markets to protect its domestic producers in sensitive areas. Upon entry into force of the Agreement, Canada should immediately eliminate tariffs on 99.9% of current imports from Ukraine. This includes elimination by Canada of tariffs on all industrial products, fish and seafood, and 99.9% of agricultural imports from Ukraine. At the same time, Ukraine should immediately eliminate tariffs on 86% of Canada's current exports, with the balance to be phased out or subject to tariff reductions over periods of up to seven years.
