Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 12/8/17



Canadian officials announced Thursday that they’ve secured expanded access to China’s market for beef and pork exports.

The announcement followed completion Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's trade mission to China.The notable agricultural developments include:
• The launching of a pilot project for the export of Canadian chilled/fresh meat (beef and pork) to China. The pilot project allows for the export of chilled/fresh meat to China originating from Canadian establishments approved to participate in the pilot project. 
• China has approved the import of frozen bone-in beef in accordance with the 2016 agreement to work towards expanded market access to China for Canada's beef products.

As distribution chains and marketing in China for Canadian chilled and frozen meat products are developed, Canadian meat industry estimates the increased export values could be upwards of $100 million for pork and $125 million for beef over the next five years.

Canadian officials say this expanded access and ongoing talks toward a comprehensive trade agreement will help their government’s twin goals to grow the country's agri-food exports to at least $75 billion annually by 2025, and to double bilateral trade with China by 2025.

Canada exported more than $6 billion in agri-food products to China, its second largest trading partner, in 2016. Frozen pork was among the top exports.

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