Argentina and China signed the respective sanitary protocols to open the Chinese market to Argentine fresh blueberries and dried peas, within the framework of a visit of the Ministry of Agribusiness to the People's Republic of China.
"These agreements ratify our intention of becoming the world's pantry. Opening up more markets allows us to boost our regional economies," said the Minister of Agribusiness, Luis Miguel Etchevehere.
The undersecretary of Agricultural Markets, Jesus Silveyra, met with AQSIQ and reviewed the extensive agenda of negotiations so that the Argentine products can access the Asian country. They also made important progress to reach agreements on the adaptation of the cherry protocol, among other things.
The protocol for dried peas (green and yellow) is important, not only because it represents the opening of the second biggest importing market in the world, behind India, but also because it is an incentive for local production, as this winter crop will benefit the production of second-season corn and soybeans due to the greater incorporation of nitrogen into the soil and a lower productive cycle.
Argentina's Ambassador in China, Diego Guelar, said that "this new achievement consolidates the strategic relationship between both countries and allows us to increase our presence in China's food market with high-level products, such as Argentinian blueberries."
This decision is part of the commitment made by Presidents Xi Jingping and Mauricio Macri during the State visit in May of this year and it is aimed at balancing the bilateral trade balance.
Moreover, the Agroindustrial Council in that country organized meetings with the largest state importer of grain from China, Sinograin, as well as with the associations of the timber and livestock industries to enhance trade and promote investment in Argentina's agroindustrial sector.
During the first 11 months of 2017 China imported 10,000 tons of fresh blueberries, mainly from Chile and Peru, and 1.2 million tons of dried peas, mainly from Canada.
China is the second destination for Argentine agro-industrial exports, behind the European Union. In 2016, Argentine agro-industrial exports to that destination amounted to US $3,900 million.
It is worth noting that, starting December of 2017, China reduced tariffs for the importation of food from Argentina, such as prawns, dairy products, children's preparations, and certain types of infant milk formulas.