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Canada Judge Clears Key Beef Price-Fixing Case to Proceed

By  |  October 28, 2025

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has certified a portion of a major class-action lawsuit that accuses some of North America’s biggest meatpacking companies of conspiring to keep beef prices artificially high, according to a recent court decision.

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    The claim, filed on behalf of Canadian consumers, alleges that corporations including Cargill, JBS, Tyson, and National Beef engaged in an anti-competitive scheme to inflate prices by manipulating the beef supply. The case was brought forward by Vancouver resident Giang Bui, who claims that he and other consumers were overcharged for beef products over a ten-year period.

    According to the Oct. 23 ruling by Justice Michael Thomas, the court found that parts of the lawsuit relating to the purchase of fed cattle fall outside the scope of Canada’s Competition Act and would likely fail. However, Thomas allowed the claim to proceed under civil conspiracy grounds, stating that it was not “plain and obvious” those allegations could not succeed. Per the statement, this represents a key procedural win for the plaintiffs, who can now attempt to demonstrate the alleged coordination between the meatpackers.

    The decision means the plaintiffs must now present credible economic evidence showing a factual basis for their claims. According to the statement, they will need to use modelling to quantify the alleged overcharges and show how the conspiracy affected consumers across Canada. The court’s certification allows these next steps to take place in further hearings.

    Read more: Bread Price-Fixing Lawsuit Ends in Major Payout for Canadian Consumers

    Thomas’s ruling also noted that approximately 90 percent of Canadians consume beef, highlighting the potentially widespread impact of the alleged price manipulation. The judge observed that roughly 30,000 businesses—including restaurants, wholesalers, and retailers—could be involved in distributing beef products affected by the alleged conduct. “This is clearly a broad proposed class,” wrote Thomas.

    Lawyers for the plaintiffs indicated they intend to coordinate with a similar case underway in Quebec, according to the statement. The B.C. court has directed both sides to submit further evidence as the certification process continues.

    The case marks one of the most significant antitrust proceedings in Canada’s food industry in recent years, focusing on whether some of the largest meat suppliers unlawfully restricted market competition to the detriment of consumers nationwide.

    Source: NY Post