Chinese ambassador reassures Brazil of desire to develop trade relationship

Last week, the ambassador of China to Brazil, Yang Wanming, brought together producers and exporters of Brazilian grains and meats in a conversation by videoconference to discuss bilateral trade between the two countries. The action came about ten days after the government of the Chinese city of Shenzhen reported that a sample of frozen chicken wings imported from Brazil´s Aurora Alimentos, located in Santa Catarina, tested positive for the coronavirus.

According to the participants, the ambassador guaranteed that his expectation is to establish a long-term relationship between the two countries and highlighted the potential for growth in bilateral trade. The sector left the meeting reassured, after hearing from the ambassador that “China is going to base itself on scientific rationality and clarification of the facts” to define actions in the midst of the pandemic. According to one of the participants, he also stated that “Chinese consumers have confidence in Brazilian meat”.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, China has already suspended imports from six Brazilian slaughterhouses. The export of Brazilian animal protein to China has grown a lot in the last year, mainly due to the African swine flu that decimated a large part of China´s pork production, a meat that is widely consumed in the country. The following chart shows Brazil´s animal protein exports to China since 2017:

Brazilian Meat Exports (HS 0202, 0203 and 0207) to China | Jan 2017 to Jun 2020 | TEU

Source: DataLiner

According to the special advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture, Larissa Wachholz, who participated in the conversation, Wanming made it clear that the measures implemented by China are not aimed particularly at Brazil. According to her, the ambassador highlighted the “natural, strategic and highly complementary partnership” between the two nations, with room to increase in new sectors, products, and market openings.

The following graph shows the growth in Brazil´s soy exports to China:

Brazilian Soy Exports to China | Jan 2017 to Jun 2020 | WTMT

 

“We are two powers in the agricultural sector and we can learn from each other. China is willing to make this cooperation grow even further and rise to a new level ”, said the ambassador, according to a note released by the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil (CNA).

The following charts show the main goods exported from Brazil to China in containers and in bulk:

Goods exported from Brazil to China in container | Jan to Jun 2020 | TEU

Source: DataLiner

Goods exported from Brazil to China in bulk | Jan to Jun 2020 | WTMT

Source: DataLiner
(To request a DataLiner demo click here)

Source of report: Valor Econômico