Brazil looking to open Canadian, Saudi Arabian fresh beef markets

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil is working on a deal to open the Canadian market for fresh beef in the second half of 2015 and is in the final phase of opening the Saudi Arabian market, the agriculture ministry's secretary of international relations said on Monday. Brazil also expects a final deal to export beef to Japan by December, secretary Tatiana Palermo said. Brazil has recently clinched agreements to export fresh beef to China and the United States, overcoming mad cow concerns in 2012. (Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Writing by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)