Chinese consumers will be able to chow down on Canadian beef July 1 for the first time in more than seven years.China agreed to allow the special shipment of Canadian beef into the country even before formal details of a recently announced partial market opening were worked out. The move follows a June 24 agreement between Canada and China to begin a staged reopening of the Chinese border that was closed in May 2003 after BSE was discovered in Canada.Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz was at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 to host a beef barbecue and to act as server, along with Canadian Cattlemen’s Association president Travis Toews and Canada Beef Export Federation president Gib Drury.Governor general Michaelle Jean, in China on a state visit while Queen Elizabeth is in Canada, is scheduled to attend.China has agreed to initially open its market to boneless beef from animals younger than 30 months, as well as industrial tallow. As well, negotiations are to start on a complete market opening agreement that the Canadian industry says will be worth at least $110 million annually in additional sales.Ritz said in a news release issued by Agriculture Canada that China’s decision to allow in the special shipment of beef for Canada Day celebrations illustrated “a strong trade relationship based on the principles of sound science.”He said the Canada Day barbecue “will help promote and boost demand for high-quality Canadian beef.”At a CBEF seminar in Beijing, 90 invited guests from the import, retail and culinary sectors are also dining on beef, as well as Canadian pork and canola. The meat is being grilled using a canola-based marinade.Drury, a cattle producer from western Quebec, said in the Agriculture Canada news release that Ritz’s trade promotion efforts are paying off.He said the federation luncheon in Beijing is a key part of the promotion.”The guests are key industry representatives from Beijing’s import and distribution sector, retail sector and culinary sector who will help build demand and sales for Canadian beef in this tremendous market.”For the first time, Agriculture Canada also issued the news release in Chinese.
China allows Canadian beef for Canada Day barbecue
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