Creed on China: 'It's a big deal'

The Chinese market will increase competition for Irish farmers’ products and support prices, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed told the Irish Farmers Journal ahead of a trade mission to the country next week – at a time when Brexit talks send negative signals for farm incomes.

“It’s a big deal, the Chinese market is very significant,” Minister Creed said. He highlighted that China had quickly become one of the top destinations for Irish dairy and pigmeat exports, but would not set target figures for recently approved beef exports there.

“We’re first in the EU – that’s no accident,” he said, referring to Irish quality and standards. His visit, which coincides with a separate one by European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan, will take in the major SIAL trade show in Shanghai.

“It’s important to establish our credentials,” Minister Creed said. “It will be an opportunity for the beef industry through the SIAL exhibition to build relationships with business partners in China, and for me to meet with political colleagues in China and to work at consolidating and building that relationship as well.”

China approved three Irish beef factories last month and five more have applied.

The minister’s priority is to “get product flowing” before the end of July in the approved frozen, boneless beef category from cattle under 30 months, before considering talks to widen access for other products. Meanwhile, negotiations on sheepmeat are at “very early stages”, he said.

As the Irish border and customs union issues risk stalling Brexit talks, Minister Creed said that “our strategy for dealing with that is looking for new market opportunities, such as what we have in China”. He welcomed “remarkable solidarity” from other EU member states in talks with the UK, but said that direct EU support to alleviate the effects of a potential hard Brexit was not on the agenda: “To be talking at this stage of a bailout for Irish agriculture is premature.”