November 12, 2014 – Shanghai, China – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today completed a successful trade mission to China where he helped deepen the long-standing ties and bilateral relations that will advance the interests of Canadian agricultural producers, processors and exporters.
Minister Ritz joined Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a delegation of Canadian Ministers and business leaders to take part in the Canada-China Business Forum, where they witnessed the signing of an agreement to sell $1billion of Canadian canola oil to China. Minister Ritz participated in meetings and seminars with Chinese government officials and members of industry to discuss the tremendous opportunities for trade between China and Canada.
Minister Ritz participated in a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing alongside China’s Minister of the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, Zhi Shuping, for the signing of a final Phytosanitary Arrangement for British Columbia fresh cherries marking the normalization of cherry exports from B.C. to China, valued by industry at $20 million annually. The ceremony also included the signing of a cooperative arrangement to advance work that will allow for the sale of fresh Canadian blueberries in China, new access that is estimated by industry to be valued at up to $65 million annually once fully implemented.
Minister Ritz helped promote Canada’s high-quality beef and agricultural goods by participating in a special Canada Beef Inc. branding event in Guangzhou. Building on the success of Minister Ritz's trade mission in June, Canada Beef Inc. has recently expanded its footprint in China. This expansion is aimed at solidifying the Canadian brand with the growing Chinese middle-class.
Minister Ritz also attended the Canada Pavilion at the Food and Hospitality China exhibition in Shanghai to help further Canadian business interests in the world’s second-largest economy and Canada’s second-largest single-country trading partner. A total of forty-six Canadian companies and associations participated in the exhibition this year.
Jeff English
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
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