Partner Article

UK signs £50m pork deal with China

Britain has signed a £50 million deal to export pork to China, the biggest market in the world for pig meat.

The deal was finalised after 5 years of talks, and it is now likely that negotiations over lamb and beef exports will follow.

Commenting on the deal, Agriculture Minister Jim Paice said: “China is the most lucrative grocery market in the world, and From fashion to food its rapidly expanding middle class has an appetite for Western goods.

The minister is currently on a trade mission to China with the aim of opening up further trade links with the country. As the world’s second largest economy,China offers huge opportunities for Britains farming, food and drink sector, which has an international reputation for food quality and innovation.

China’s meat consumption is rapidly increasing, and the country is unable to meet the demands of the rapidly-growing nation. The Chinese also enjoy eating the parts of the pig which are less popular with British diners, such as offal or trotters, which would provide additional revenue for British farmers.

British Pig Executive chairman Stewart Houston said: “This is a wonderful achievement and something we have been working towards for several years in close cooperation with Defra and the British embassy in Beijing.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .