December 1, 2010

Argentina to resume beef exports to China

Argentina will resume beef exports to China, reopening a trade sector closed since a 2006 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Argentina, the Argentine embassy in Beijing said Tuesday (Nov 30).

China is Argentina's top market for agricultural exports, and the two sides are moving to expand trade ties in the farm sector after China agreed in October to resume imports of Argentine soyoil following a six-month trade spat.

Argentine Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Julian Dominguez, is visiting China with an official delegation this week to sign the bilateral agreements, which include expanding the scope of trade in dairy products, it said.

During Dominguez's visit, the delegation will also discuss further trade ties in commodities including tobacco, poultry, soyoil, bovine semen and embryos, corn, and fruits.

Argentina is likely to complete negotiations with China on trade in bovine semen and embryos in early 2011, the embassy said in a release.