September 17, 2007

Brazil, China to sign beef trade pact

Brazilian beef's entry to China nears as two countries are to sign a protocol of intentions for future beef trade, Brazil's Agriculture Minister, Reinhold Stephanes, said on Thursday (September 13).

The agreement will be signed by the end of September 2007, during the visit of a Chinese mission in Brazilian southernmost Rio Grande do Sul state. The pact includes China's inspection on slaughterhouses in Rio Grande do Sul and other meat processing companies.

However, according to the state's agriculture superintendent Francisco Signor, Rio Grande do Sul will centre on pork exports as it already has established well-developed markets in other countries.

Signor added that Rio Grande do Sul has four main competitive advantages, namely sanitary control, price, quality and quantity, which will help it establish itself as a meat supplier to China.