A statement posted by British high commissioner Susannah Goshko cited a lack of progress. Canada is “disappointed,” said Shanti Cosentino, a spokesperson for Trade Minister Mary Ng, adding that the U.K.’s “decision to continue to maintain market access barriers to our agriculture industry” contributed to stalling talks. (The Logic)

Talking point: Ottawa and London began negotiating a trade pact in March 2022 to replace an interim, post-Brexit deal. But that still-going continuity agreement contained a time-limited provision allowing the U.K. dairy sector to keep sending cheese here until the end of 2023 under the EU’s carve-out to Canada’s import controls. Sellers of Stilton, Wensleydale and other cheeses warned that letting the “cheese letters” lapse would cost them dearly in tariffs. London sought an extension, but was holding out on Ottawa’s asks on agricultural sanitary and phytosanitary provisions, said a senior government official granted anonymity to discuss the negotiations. Canadian dairy farmers want the country to keep out any more British cheese, while Canadian beef farmers want to sell meat from cows that are given growth hormones to the U.K.