Xi Jinping’s visit: France will be able to export pig intestines to China, no progress on cognac

A new market is opening. China, on the occasion of the visit of its President Xi Jinping to France, made some commitments in the field of agriculture, committing to facilitate access to some French products, including poultry in the case of bird flu, pig intestines or wines with protected geographical conditions. indications. However, some beef and cognac cases remain unsolved.

The heads of state of France and China “adopted a joint declaration regarding agricultural exchanges and cooperation for the first time,” the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday.

In the near future, this led to the signing of several agreements that opened up the huge Chinese market more widely to French goods. French companies will be able to continue exporting poultry meat to the Chinese market even if a case of bird flu is detected in the country, provided that the meat comes from areas free of the virus. “France is the first European country and the second country in the world after the United States that managed to conclude this agreement with China,” the ministry emphasizes.

China also agreed to allow the import of new parts of pork, “white offal”, which are parts of the digestive system such as the stomach and intestines.

This expansion of markets for the French pig sector is “very positive,” says Anne Richard, director of the interprofessional association Inaporc. France is finding better markets in China for parts of pork that are little consumed in Europe and considered “noble” thousands of miles away, she explains. She said “this could allow us to increase our exports to China by 10%,” representing a potential additional income of €26 million.

Recognition of Burgundy wines, lack of progress in beef production

On the beverage side, “the administrative agreement regarding wine cooperation will promote, structure and facilitate cooperation in China’s wine sector,” the ministry points out, referring in particular to intellectual property protection.

Two Burgundy wine appellations, Mâcon and Gevrey Chambertin, are due to be officially recognized in China this month. The decision should pave the way for the recognition of “all Burgundy appellations”, which includes 84 AOC wine certificates, as the Burgundy wine industry hails in a press release.

The joint declaration between France and China also detailed that the two countries are discussing “opening the market for dehydrated alfalfa,” a protein-rich feed intended for livestock of which France is Europe’s second-largest producer after Spain.

While French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping made no attempt Monday to hide rising trade tensions, with the French in particular calling for “fair” trade rules, other agricultural issues remain unresolved. On beef, “France will remain vigilant to achieve a complete lifting of the embargo on bovine spongiform encephalopathy,” the scientific name for mad cow disease, the press release said.

The agreement, signed in 2018, partially lifted the Chinese embargo on French beef imposed in 2001 following the mad cow disease crisis, but it only applies to certain cuts from cattle less than 30 months old.

The fate of cognac remains unresolved

On the issue of cognac, the situation remains unclear. In January, China launched an investigation into alleged anti-competitive behavior for all wine spirits imported from the European Union, including Charentais spirit. Observers generally view it as retaliation against a European investigation, largely backed by France, into subsidies for electric vehicles made in China.

The cognac industry had hoped for an announcement of a “suspension” of the investigation during Xi Jinping’s visit. China has made it clear that there will be no immediate customs duties as a precautionary measure pending the outcome of the investigation, a French diplomatic source said. During the press conference, Emmanuel Macron thanked his colleague “for being open about temporary measures for French cognac and not wanting them to be applied.”