3.6 million tons of grain were sent to China from Russia this year. This is a record value, which is 3 times more than in the same period last year.
The other day, a meeting of the Russian-Chinese working group was held, at which issues of veterinary and phytosanitary control, as well as food safety, were discussed.
In general, countries are moving to increase exports of such products to China.
Admission to the Chinese market of a number of products has been agreed
In particular, we are talking about cranberries, safflower, Jerusalem artichoke and reindeer moss. Their export is currently underway.
The removal of restrictions on the admission of livestock products is being discussed
If everything can be agreed upon to the end, the Chinese will be able to receive live cattle from Russia, as well as beef by-products.
The next step could be the lifting of restrictions on the entry into China of pork from Russia, as well as chicken and fish meat. It is possible that in the future there will be an increase in the supply of lamb.
All this is complicated by serious requirements for veterinary control.
For example, the Russian side asks to simplify the access procedure as follows: if an outbreak of disease among animals occurred in Russia, but it was not recorded at a specific livestock enterprise, then the products of this enterprise could freely enter the Chinese market.
Feed supplies are being discussed
Another area of negotiations of the working group is the supply of animal feed and feed grain to China.
What about grain?
This is undoubtedly the most serious point.
Currently, China agrees to purchase only spring wheat from the Russian Federation, although it accounts for less than half of the total volume of grain grown.
If this restriction were removed, wheat exports to China could increase exponentially.
Supplies of corn and rice to the Celestial Empire are also limited: the Chinese agree to buy these products only if they are grown in the Siberian and Far Eastern regions.
In general, there is a wide range of agricultural products that would be of interest to the Chinese side.
In addition to all of the above, these are, for example, semolina, rye flour, soybean meal, beet pulp, wheat bran, beans, rapeseed.
And for almost every one of these products there is ample opportunity to increase supply.
But the main thing here is the gradual easing of Chinese restrictions, which can be carried out in stages, and each new step in this direction will increase the prospects for cooperation between the two countries.
