We win a high steaks trade deal with China

IRISH beef farmers will now be able to sell their products to China following a ground-breaking trade coup.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed made the announcement yesterday, which means Ireland becomes the first EU country to be able to sell beef to the most populated country in the world. It is also the first time that Ireland will sell its beef to China.

Irish farmers already export dairy and pigmeat products to China which in 2017 was worth €974million. Irish beef products are to be added to the list in the coming days.

Minister Creed said: ‘The opening of this key market presents an excellent opportunity for the Irish beef sector, from farmers through to processors.’

The announcement has been welcomed by farmers associations, industry groups, as well as Bord Bia. The latter’s CEO Tara McCarthy said yesterday: ‘Bord Bia, and in particular, our Shanghai office, has been actively planning and preparing for today’s breakthrough, and we are now well-positioned and ready to maximise this significant opportunity for Irish beef exporters.’

Last week, Bord Bia met with a number of delegates from the China Meat Association as well as representatives from leading Chinese meat importers to give them a firsthand experience of the Irish food industry and in particular the beef industry. Irish Farmers’ Association president Joe Healy welcomed the announcement saying it’s ‘positive news for the Irish beef sector’.

Director of Meat Industry Ireland, Cormac Healy, said: ‘This is an important breakthrough for the Irish beef sector and comes after many years of extensive efforts by both the Government and the industry to secure access to the rapidly growing Chinese beef import market.’

However, Pat McCormack, president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, which represents Irish dairy farmers, said the opening of the Chinese beef market to Irish products will be ‘of little benefit’ if beef producers don’t see the results.

In the last 30 years, Chinese demand for meat has accelerated, with the country now consuming 25% of the world’s meat supply.

TWO decades after China imposed a ban on beef produced in the EU, Ireland has become the first member state to be welcomed back in. This is of course a hugely significant breakthrough and it is to be hoped that the export market develops further in the years ahead. For now, though, a few words of congratulations are merited. Well done to the diplomats, officials and everyone else who made it happen.