February 22, 2012

 

Ireland hopes to up food exports to China

 

 

Ireland hopes that greater cooperation on agricultural trade with China will bring about an increase in Irish dairy and food exports to China, said Ireland's Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.

 

The message comes as Vice-President Xi Jinping arrived in the west coast town of Shannon on Saturday (Feb 18) on a three-day visit.

 

But Coveney also has concerns about the import tariffs China charges on products from the European Union and its ban of EU beef since the outbreak of mad-cow disease in 2000.

 

Xi said in a written speech upon arrival that the main purpose of his visit was to "deepen the traditional friendship between our people and advance bilateral relations and practical cooperation".

 

During a trip to a 400-year-old family-run dairy farm in County Clare on Sunday morning (Feb 19), Xi highlighted the importance of cooperation on dairy and agri-food products. Xi was given a tour by farmer James Lynch of livestock housed in sheds, including dry cows, breeding heifers and beef cattle.

 

"We have a climate that gives us fresh, pure grass, and we have some of the finest dairy herds in Europe," Lynch said. The 87-hectare farm supports a herd of 120 Friesian cows and a smaller herd of beef cattle.

 

"I think it's a real opportunity for him to see just how fresh and clean the environment for producing food in Ireland actually is," said the agriculture minister.

 

He added that Ireland sells almost EUR9 billion (US$11.9 billion) worth of food per year, but "less than EUR200 million" of it to China.

 

Ireland has a disadvantage compared to New Zealand, a bigger dairy and agri-food exporter to China, says Coveney, because Dublin is subject to tariffs based on the Sino-European trade agreement.

 

China imported a total of more than US$2.31 billion worth of agri-food products from New Zealand in the first nine months of 2011, according to the Ministry of Commerce. According to the Free Trade Agreement signed between the two countries in 2008, almost all of New Zealand's exports to China will be tariff-free by 2019.

 

Dublin, in comparison, exported about US$169 million worth of the same products to Beijing over the same period, according to Bord Bia, the state body responsible for marketing Irish food and drink abroad.

 

"So obviously we'd like the opportunity to be able to compete with New Zealand, because we think Irish dairy products are just as good," Coveney said. He also said Ireland hopes to export more pork, beef and seafood, particularly salmon, to China.