June 19, 2024

Spain's agriculture minister seeks increased access to China for Spanish seafood, aquaculture products

Spain's Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Luis Planas, said he wants to increase exports of foods from the country, including seafood, to China.

During a visit to the SIAL B2B food and beverage expo in Shanghai, China, in late-May, Planas said he is pushing for an update to Chinese import protocols to allow more Spanish food into China in the hope of cutting Spain's trade deficit.

In Beijing, Planas met with China Customs Head Yu Jianhua and China Agriculture Vice Minister Ma Youxiang, who is in charge of national fisheries regulation and policy. Planas said in a statement he requested Yu and Ma to allow for more Spanish wild-caught seafood products, some aquaculture products and fishmeal for animal feed to enter China.

Planas said there have been "good technical relations" between Spain and China. Recently, China has signed protocols to improve processes to facilitate imports of Spanish olive paste, pet food, fodder oats, almond and persimmon.

In 2023, Spain increased its food exports to China by 19.4 percent year over year to US$ 2 million, but there are concerns in the country's government about the widening overall trade deficit with China at a time of increased tension between key EU and Chinese decision-makers over trade.

- SeafoodSource