Federal agriculture minister Chuck Strahl visits China this week, trying to drum up Canadian food sales and opportunities for investment in one of the world’s largest economies.
He said he will be raising everything from the safety of Canadian beef to the health benefits of canola.
“We have a good relationship but it can grow and I want to be sure things are on the rails,” Strahl said.
Last year, Canada sold $1.4 billion worth of agriculture and food products to China, just four percent of its food imports.
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Strahl is the first representative of the Stephen Harper government to visit China since the Conservatives were sworn in eight months ago. Strahl said because of that and the fact that agriculture is the topic, the Chinese are showing “huge interest” in the visit, by giving him access to the agriculture minister and the Chinese vice-premier, as well as many agriculture officials.
Harper and foreign affairs minister Peter MacKay have taken criticism from the business community for failing to work on the relationship with China.
“It is good that we are finally sending someone,” Canadian Chamber of Commerce policy vice-president Shirley Ann George said Oct. 6. “The growth of China is explosive and there is a tremendous potential for increased sales in agrifood products.”
She noted that as the Chinese middle class expands, the demand for higher value food grows, creating opportunity for processed food sales.
In 2005, China imported almost $29 billion US worth of food products. Canada was its seventh largest supplier.
Kenny Zhang, senior research analyst for the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said the potential to increase Canadian sales to China is huge but Canada must change its tactic.
“The point is that Canada has a good image in China as a nation but no brand for particular products,” he said. “There is certainly some work to do on branding.”
