Chile and China strengthen trade relations with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding during Chile Week

ChileCarne, a key representative of the meat industry at Chile Week 2024, highlighted joint efforts with the Undersecretariat of Agriculture to achieve strategic agreements such as this one, which expand access for Chilean meat to its primary export market: China.

The latest Chile Week China, an annual event that promotes collaboration between Chile and the Asian giant, included the signing of an important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the South American country and the Chinese province of Hainan. The MoU, signed in the presence of the Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alberto van Klaveren; the Undersecretary of Agriculture, Ignacia Fernández; and the Vice Minister of China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC), Wang Lingjun, marks the culmination of more than four years of intense negotiations led by Chilean authorities and technical teams.

The Undersecretary of Agriculture highlighted the importance of these new export protocols: “I am quite pleased with the implementation of new export protocols that will further strengthen our relationship with China. They include the possibility of shipping fresh fruit by sea and air, improving quality and delivery times, and expanding the pork export protocol to include chilled meat and by-products. We appreciate GACC’s efforts to achieve these agreements, which not only facilitate exports, but also reflect the trust and friendship between Chile and China, reaffirming our commitment to offering high-quality and safe foods to Chinese families.”

The Chilean delegation, made up of 25 companies and associations such as Fruits from Chile, Wines of Chile, and Pisco Chile, also included ChileCarne, a leading actor in the negotiation and implementation of this agreement. A key role was also played by Llacolén Lefever, Chile’s Agricultural Attaché in China, who played a crucial role in finalizing the protocol. The success of the MoU is also the result of the joint efforts of Chile’s Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), and the companies’ technical teams, who were actively involved in analyzing the agreement drafts and approving the product factsheets.

The President of ChileCarne, Juan Carlos Domínguez, emphasized the impact of the agreement: “Pork accounts for almost 60% of Chilean meat exports. Chile was the first country authorized to export pork to China, and it has been the primary destination for Chilean pork exports since 2019. The agreement signed today in Beijing will not only increase the number of frozen products authorized to enter China, but also open the possibility of shipping fresh Chilean pork products. This is great news because it expands market opportunities for our products, improves competitiveness, and allows us to continue developing an activity that significantly benefits our rural communities.”

The Chinese market has solidified its position as the primary destination market for Chilean meat, representing 44% of the total volume exported in 2023, with annual values expected to exceed $200 million USD. The further strengthening of exports reinforces Chile’s position as a strategic partner in Asia and opens new development opportunities for the country’s agri-food industry.

Chile Week will continue from December 2 to 7 with activities in the city of Hangzhou, reaffirming Chile’s commitment to broaden horizons and strengthen the relationship with China.