Britain and Canada have suspended free trade talks over disagreements over access to each other's agricultural products.

Canadian farmers complain that their beef cannot enter the British market due to hormone regulations. The UK , in turn, claims that it cannot accept Canadian beef produced using hormones because it violates British food safety standards.

The Canadian government also accused the UK of failing to renew the cheese agreement, which expired in 2023. The UK stated that it did not renew the agreement because Canada failed to meet its commitments to reduce tariffs on British goods.

Both sides have expressed a willingness to resume negotiations, but it is not yet clear when this will happen. The suspension of free trade talks between the UK and Canada could harm the economies of both countries.

Additional information:

The UK is one of the world's largest beef exporters, and Canada is one of the largest beef importers.
The UK and Canada are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which sets the rules for international trade.
A free trade agreement between the UK and Canada could increase trade between the two countries and lower prices for consumers.
A suspension of free trade negotiations could lead to higher tariffs on goods exported from the UK to Canada, and vice versa.
A suspension of free trade negotiations could also lead to a decline in investment in both countries.