Canadian and Chinese officials are currently exploring a possible Canada-China Free Trade Agreement. If the exploratory discussions were to launch free trade negotiations, the CPC is ready to represent the interests of Canadian pork producers.

November 15, 2017

2 Min Read
Canadian Pork Council member promoting pork in China
Getty Images

Source: Canadian Pork Council
A trade mission lead by the Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAuley includes a New Brunswick pork producer to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and witness the dynamics of an important market for Canadian pork.

Hans Kristensen, a member of the Canadian Pork Council Board of Director, will be travelling to Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing to:

• learn firsthand about opportunities for Canadian pork products;
• meet Chinese companies and food-importing associations interested in Canadian pork;
• participate in the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, China’s largest food trade show, where Canada Pork International has a booth showcasing Canadian pork with 18 Canadian pork exporters.

“Trade missions provide us with invaluable opportunities to network and build relationships, not only with host countries, but also with other delegates participating in the mission,” says Rick Bergmann, chair of the CPC. “China is a critical market for Canadian pork and it is important to continue expanding the demand for high-quality, safe Canadian pork.”

Canadian and Chinese officials are currently exploring a possible Canada-China Free Trade Agreement. If the exploratory discussions were to launch free trade negotiations, the CPC is ready to represent the interests of Canadian pork producers. A free trade agreement with China would be a significant opportunity, especially if China is prepared to address current trade challenges, as it has with other countries.

In 2014, the Chinese consumed 57 million tons of pork, but only produced 53 million tons of pork in 2016. In response to this opportunity, Canada exported 313,914 tons of pork and pork products to China in 2016, a 142% increase over the previous year. This represented a $587 million market for the pork industry, and the Canadian economy. China is Canada’s second-biggest volume export market for pork after the United States.

The Canadian government’s trade agenda is instrumental in driving benefits to Canadian hog producers. The CPC encourages the Canadian government to take every opportunity to secure favorable terms of access to foreign markets, including finalizing new trade agreements such as Trans-Pacific Partnership-11, negotiating with China or modernizing existing trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement.

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