China Buys The Farm, Look How Smug He Is, He Thinks We Are Stupid

Market access achievements in China for beef, live cattle, blueberries

Published on June 19, 2014

© (Photo: Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada)

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz met with China’s Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu earlier this month.

Blueberry industry estimates access to Chinese market at up to $65M annually

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz held key bilateral meetings with the Chinese government that yielded key developments benefitting a wide range of agricultural producers, processors and exporters.

 Earlier this month Ritz met with China's Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu and Wei Chuanzhong, the Vice Minister of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

Following these meetings, China formally agreed to work with Canadian officials to provide access for Under 30 Month bone-in beef as well as live cattle.

Ritz signed two protocols with Wei, one to secure access for timothy hay to China and the other to modernize our countries' live swine protocol, reflecting recent animal health and disease control science-based approaches.

 China also agreed to expedite work that will allow for the sale of fresh Canadian blueberries. The meeting also advanced B.C. cherry export interests.

Once fully implemented, industry estimates the Chinese market for Canadian beef will grow to $240 million annually and the market for live cattle to $150M.

The market for timothy hay is estimated to be worth $8M over the next five years.

Industry expects the live swine protocol will boost Canadian competitiveness and result in sales of up to $11M annually.

The blueberry industry estimates that access to the Chinese market be valued at up to $65M annually.

Industry values industry fresh cherry exports at $20M a year.