OTTAWA - Canadian pork producers are pleased that the issues preventing the export of pork products to China have been resolved. The market is an important one for producers that has been closed since exports were suspended on June 25, 2019.
“We are very appreciative of the efforts of government officials to help restore reliable access to China” said Rick Bergmann, Canadian Pork Council (CPC) Chair. “We’d like to thank Canadian Agriculture and Agri-food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and International Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr for the leadership they have shown in working to resolve this issue. We look forward to working with Ambassador Barton to further strengthen Canadian-Chinese relations”.
This news is very timely as Chinese pork supplies have been significantly reduced by an outbreak of African swine fever. “Producers look forward to help meet the demands of Chinese consumers for wholesome, high-quality pork” added René Roy, CPC’s Second Vice-Chair.
CPC’s First Vice-Chair Hans Kristensen will travel to China next week with representatives from Canada’s red meat industry including Canada Pork International and the Canadian Meat Council. “This mission to China is very timely and will allow us to deepen our understanding of the market’s requirements and strengthen our relationships with Chinese importers” explained Mr. Kristensen.
China is a very important market for Canadian producers. In 2018, Canada’s pork exports totalled almost $4 billion, of which $514 million was exported to China making it our third-largest export market.
The Canadian Pork Council is the national voice for hog producers in Canada. A federation of nine provincial pork industry associations representing 7,000 farms, the organization plays a leadership role in achieving and maintaining a dynamic and prosperous Canadian pork sector.
Source : Ontario Pork