In a first of its kind initiative, Canadian meat and livestock groups have announced plans to open an advocacy office in the Chinese capital.
The Canadian Meat Council (CMC), the Canadian Pork Council (CPC), and the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA), in partnership with the federal government, have banded together to create the Beijing office, which is expected to help enhance support for Canadian producers and processors in meeting Chinese consumer demand.
“The opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to such an important market is something we’re thrilled about,” said David Typer, Chair of the Canadian Meat Advocacy Board. “Our next step is hiring a representative in China, after which the office will become operational.”
The initiative aims to strengthen connections with the Chinese red meat sector, government agencies, and consumers alike, “fostering an enduring relationship between the two countries.”
Canada's pork exports to China have fluctuated over the years, but China remains an important market for Canadian pork producers. Canadian pork exports for the first six months of the year were up 14% year-on-year, largely due to growth in shipments to China. Total exports for the period came to 688,300 tonnes, with shipments to China making up 45% of the volume.
Canadian beef has had a rockier path. China has been blocking beef shipments from Canadian processing plants for almost three years, ever since an atypical case of BSE was found on an Alberta farm in December 2021. Before the 2021 ban, China was Canada's third-largest beef export market, importing $193 million worth of product annually.
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