[2019-05-29] Technical mission from China scheduled to visit Portugal in August

Source: Macauhub

A technical mission from China will visit Portugal next August to continue with negotiations related to Portugal’s intention to open the Chinese market to pear, grape and citrus fruit production, the Portuguese government said in a statement.

The statement released on Tuesday in Lisbon announcing the signing of a protocol with China to harmonise procedures and streamline internationalisation processes, also said that negotiations on those three products were “at a very advanced stage.”

After opening the Chinese market to pork produced in Portugal, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development is also negotiating citrus fruits, apples, rice, kiwis, peaches, nectarines and plums, honey, poultry, mutton and beef, hatching eggs and day-old chicks, horses and pork derivative products.

The statement added that Portugal has a positive balance of trade with China in the agri-food sector, exporting an annual amount of 150 million euros, adding that there are conditions that could lead to “growth in favour of domestic production.”

“China is an interesting market for Portugal, not only because of its size but also because of the market’s own interest,” said Minister Luís Capoulas Santos, adding that the country “seeks out products that stand out for their quality and high standards of food safety, which is clearly the case of Portuguese production.”