May 30, 2008

China signs swine trade agreement with Canada

China's National Swine Industry Association has finalized the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Canadian Swine Exporters Association (CSEA) Thursday (May 29, 2008).

The signing took place at the 2008 China Animal Husbandry and Feed Industry Expo in Xi'an China.

The initiative is supported by the Canadian Trade Commissioners in Beijing.

The agreement aims to identify areas of common interest upon which a business alliance will be developed.

Chinese swine breeders' top interest is to improve meat quality, with the majority of Chinese operations under 50 sows.

Canada meanwhile boasts of expertise in improvement and production technology and personnel training. The country pledged to supply the strongest, healthiest genetics in the world to Chinese herds.

Since 1980, Canada has been exporting breeding stock to China.

Rosemary Smart, International Marketing Program Coordinator (CSEA), said that China is a very important market for Canadian exporters.

As a next step, the CSEA will be opening an office in Beijing by November of 2008 and will have a Canadian trained, Chinese national swine expert who has already worked, representing Canada, in the Chinese swine industry for many years.