Brand new this year, China will be hosting its International Import Expo (CIIE). Ministers and trade partners from all over the world will be at this event, which is partnered with the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
Organizers say the aim for the expo is to have strong support in place for trade liberalization and economic globalization, and to actively open the Chinese market to the world.
According to its website, organizers add, “We would like to work with all countries, regions and international organizations to make CIIE a world-class Expo, providing new channels for countries and regions to do business, strengthen cooperation and promote common prosperity of the world economy and trade.”
Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food, Lawrence MacAulay will be there among a group of more than 300 people from our country including federal ministers, premiers, and members of the business sector.
MacAulay tells RealAgriculture this will be the largest agricultural trade mission in Canada’s history.
“We are hoping to surpass the results of our last agricultural trade mission to China in 2017, which generated over $300 million in new sales for Canadian food products,” he says. “Our government has made agriculture a core priority, and a key part of that effort is a progressive trade agenda that is helping bring Canada’s top-quality food products to consumers around the globe.”
MacAulay went on to say nearly 200,000 Canadian farmers and thousands of small to medium-sized agri-food entrepreneurs generate over $100 billion in revenue for the Canadian economy and that by tapping in to the Chinese market, the Canadian government will create good quality jobs at home and support our rural communities.
As the event is first of its kind, MacAulay hopes the trip to China will deepen and broaden both countries’ trading relationship. In fact, MacAulay calls it a “priority,” as Canada is the second largest single-country trading partner, while China is the world’s second largest economy.
“The size and growth of China’s market represents significant commercial opportunities for Canadian farmers, processors and exporters in Canada’s agriculture and seafood sectors,” MacAulay says.
“From 2015 to 2017, China’s agri-food and seafood imports from Canada increased by 28%, and in 2017, China imported $8.6 billion worth of agricultural, agri-food, and seafood products from Canada.”
The group of Canadians will be in Shanghai, China for the CIIE from November 5th to 10th.
