November 15, 2004

China To Allow Brazil Beef, Poultry Imports

The presidents of China and Brazil on Friday will sign an sanitary accord allowing the export of Brazilian beef and chicken to the Asian giant, according to Brazil's Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues.
 
The details of the agreement were finally closed Friday morning during high level meetings in Brasilia, he said.
 
Chinese President Hu Jintao and a delegation of 300 Chinese business leaders arrived in Brazil Thursday for a four-day official visit. They will sign a string of accords during a ceremony on Friday afternoon, which will be the centerpiece of the visit. A number of major business deals are also expected to come out of the visit.
 
At present, Brazilian meat exports to China total $30.9 million, all going through Hong Kong, but Rodrigues estimated that they could rise to $600 million in the coming years following the agreement.
 
Brazil is expected to be the world's largest exporter of beef and chicken.