Canadians are paying record prices for chicken while importing massive quantities of foreign poultry, mostly from the United States. If that sounds contradictory, it’s because it is.

According to the latest Canadian Association of Regulated Importers (CARI) figures released May 23, Canada has already imported more than 52.2 million kilograms of chicken so far this year under WTO, CUSMA, and CPTPP commitments combined. Nearly 23.8 million kilograms came directly from the United States under CUSMA alone.

CHARLEBOIS: Think chicken prices are high now? Just wait until this summer Back to video

And yet, wholesale chicken prices in Canada continue to surge.

Over the past year, Canada imported roughly 200 to 215 million kilograms of chicken overall, enough for approximately 1.3 to 1.4 billion meals. About 60% came from the United States. Most Canadians likely have no idea how often they may already be consuming imported chicken in nuggets, deli meats, frozen meals, restaurant sandwiches, soups, and prepared foods.

Under supply management, Canadians were promised something very different: Stable supply, mostly domestic production, and predictable prices.

Instead, Canada now faces one of the tightest chicken markets in decades.

Industry sources indicate Canada’s chicken sector has underproduced relative to allocation targets in 12 of the last 14 production periods dating back to March 2024 — something many........

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