A news report on a pork industry web site says that China's imports of fresh, chilled and frozen pork for January to June of 2011 reached 126,269 metric tons. Imports increased 43% from the same period in 2010.
More than half of the pork imports came from the United States. It attributes increases in pork exports by the U.S. and Denmark to increased demand from China, South Korea, and Japan.
The report notes that China and the United States have differences over use of "lean meat powders," but the report observes that no effect on pork trade is evident right now. The report speculates that opening the pork market to imports is an important measure to "fill the temporary shortage" in the market.
So, does that mean Chinese quarantine authorities will suddenly start finding banned additives in U.S. pork when the "temporary shortage" of pork dissipates next year? Keep in mind, during the year-earlier January-June 2010 period Chinese pork prices were depressed and Chinese authorities still hadn't lifted the H1N1-related restrictions on pork imports put in place in 2009.
The report also notes that smuggling of poultry is rampant due to high meat prices in China.
1 comment:
Hello! I just found your blog today and it is FANTASTIC! I'm a filmmaker researching for a script that partially involves the urbanization of farmland in China, and your blog has been an trove of useful information.
I don't see any contact info listed on the blog. Is there a way I can get in touch with you? I would love to pick your brain a bit with regards to some of your posts. My email address is: wongjaso@gmail.com if you're able to shoot me an email.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Thank you!
Jason
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