December 2, 2008
Brazil to seal pork trade deal with China
Brazil made a first step in penetrating China's market by signing a joint sanitation protocol for the pork trade.
The visit follows China's inspection trip in October to examine Brazil's swine sanitation system.
The market will only open if China accepts the sanitation guarantees, said Inacio Kroetz, secretary agribusiness defense of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa).
Kroetz said the initial protocol was signed in October, but they were now going to confirm it.
Brazilian pork producers had long wanted to export their products to China, said Rubens Valentini, president of the Brazilian Swine Breeders Association (ABCS).
Valentini said while China buys Brazilian pork, it is done so indirectly by purchasing through Hong Kong.
