News in Brief:
– EU Agriculture Commissioner Wojciechowski aims to boost food exports to China amidst escalating trade tensions, prioritising agricultural interests.
– Despite trade turmoil, the bloc seeks to leverage China’s receptive market for agri-food products, emphasising the sector’s role in sustaining bilateral trade relations.
The European Union’s Agriculture Commissioner, Janusz Wojciechowski, embarked on a strategic mission to China this week, underscoring efforts to ramp up agri-food exports. Despite a looming trade conflict between both parties, Wojciechowski is determined to shield the agricultural sector from the brunt of these disputes.
In a candid interview in Shanghai, the minister emphasised the imperative to prioritise the expansion of food exports, leveraging China’s receptive market dynamics. He asserted that while trade barriers persist in various sectors, the food industry enjoys a relatively unhindered pathway into Chinese markets.
As protectionism increases, characterised by what Jens Eskelund, President of the European Chamber in China, termed a “slow motion train accident,” Wojciechowski reiterated the resilience of the EU’s agri-food sector.
Unlike other industries embroiled in trade conflicts, the agricultural domain maintains an export surplus with China, underscoring its pivotal role in sustaining bilateral trade relations.
Wojciechowski underscored the intrinsic link between open food trade and global food security, advocating against subjecting agri-food products to retaliatory measures. Notably, amidst geopolitical tensions, the EU refrained from imposing sanctions on agri-food commodities, recognising their vital role in ensuring universal food security.
Despite recent fluctuations, EU exports to China amounted to €14.6 billion (or $15.55 billion) in the previous year. Wojciechowski identified ample opportunities for growth across various sectors, including poultry, pork, beef, and dairy. With a burgeoning middle class seeking premium food products, European exporters are poised to capitalise on this burgeoning consumer demand.
