China might import melon from Brazil and enable new slaughterhouses

China might import melon produced in Brazil and enable new Brazilian slaughterhouses to supply meat to the to the country. In return, Brazil will import Chinese pear. The announcement was made by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply, Tereza Cristina, who met yesterday (10/23) with the Chinese colleague, Han Changfu.

“Many things are moving very quickly. In the case of fruit, we should have the announcement of the opening of melon from Brazil to China and pear from China to Brazil. We have more licenses coming that should happen in the days between President Bolsonaro’s visit to China and President Xi Jinping’s visit to Brazil,” said Tereza Cristina.

This is the minister’s second trip to Beijing. The first was in May this year. Tereza Cristina arrived in China last weekend and today (10/24) joined the delegation of President Jair Bolsonaro. On Thursday, the delegation visited the Great Wall of China and then met with the president of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo, Paulo Skaf.

Tereza Cristina stressed the importance of continuing talks between May and October this year. “We had some breakthroughs. The May trip was very important for a bigger opening between the Ministry of Agriculture and the GACC (Chinese customs),” said the minister.

The minister stressed the important market that is opening for Brazilian livestock production. “Today the meat market is boiling here, the need is very big. So those slaughterhouses that are prepared with the protocols to export to China will have the opportunity, such is the need and the desire to import meat from Brazil,” he said.

In the agricultural area, according to the minister, protocols are being agreed to export cottonseed meal and soybean meal, but this negotiation requires more discussions between the technical teams of both countries. China has also expressed interest in Brazilian sugar and ethanol.

“They are interested in sugar, cotton, and even ethanol. [Ethanol] It came in very early, very punctual, but let’s move on to a discussion about this subject as well,” said the minister.

Tereza Cristina stressed the importance of partnerships between Brazil and China – a country that needs to feed 1.4bn people. “What we were told yesterday, very properly, is that they have the need [for food], because they are putting more than 300m people on the consumer market. This is another Brazil that needs to be fed inside China,” she said.

“We have to take this opportunity by delivering what they want: volume, quality food, and prices that may be adjusted here in the Chinese market.”

This Friday (10/25), the minister participates in the Brazil-China Business Seminar, integrating the president’s entourage. Tereza Cristina is one of the speakers at the meeting. She talks about the Brazilian and Chinese agribusiness relations. The minister returns to Brazil this weekend.

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