Source: Delegation of the European Union to the People’s Republic of China.
From 21 to 26 April, EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski visited China to facilitate European agricultural food and beverage exports to China and expand their presence on this market. He was accompanied by a business delegation of senior representatives from the EU agri-food sector. During his visit to China, Commissioner Wojciechowski attended events and meetings in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing.
EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski met with relevant Chinese ministers in agriculture, intellectual property and customs, to discuss a variety of issues, including improved market access and positive cooperation on geographical indications. On several instances, the Commissioner has reminded Chinese officials of the “positive contribution of trade to EU agriculture and our overall net trade balance” pointing out that, despite the macroeconomic and geopolitical difficulties, there is still great potential for China and the European Union to boost their agri-food trade. Commissioner Wojciechowski proposed to reduce trade barriers and encouraged both sides to remain open to each other’s agricultural products even as other industries grow fractious. “Food products should be excluded from problems in other sectors. Open food trade is very important for food security at the global level”.
Leading a delegation of over 70 business representatives from the agri-food sector, the largest in his tenure, Commissioner Wojciechowski said that the size of the entourage “shows how important China is as our trade partner”. Representing a total business value of EUR 350 billion, this business delegation attended Anuga food and beverage trade fair in Shenzhen, looking forward to expanding their presence in the Chinese market. China is the third-largest importer of food products from the EU in 2023, with exports at EUR 14.6 billion, compared to imports during the year of EUR 8.3 billion. The most popular agri-foods imported from the EU include infant food, cereals, pork and wine. EU agri-food exports to China have been experiencing a downward trend since 2020, mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Commissioner Wojciechowski hopes that trade volume can return to 2020 levels.
In Shanghai, EU SME Centre Team Lead Liam Jia and Business Advisor Alessio Petino presented the hands-on support available to European SMEs entering the Chinese market or already doing business in the country, alongside Lisa Lu, Business Advisor at the China IP SME Helpdesk. On the first day of the mission, a seminar was organised with around 80 business delegates, joined by representatives of EU Member States and European chambers of commerce. Alessio Petino gave a presentation with practical cases on the F&B export procedures, regulations, CIFER system, certification, and labelling.
Our team also participated in the European Union pavilion at the Anuga Select China Fair with the EU High-Level Mission led by Commissioner Wojciechowski. EU SME Centre Business Advisor Alessio Petino and Communications & Visibility Manager Nelly Alix met with European SMEs in Shenzhen during the Anuga Fair, which held B2B meetings, seminars on European agri-food products, including products protected under the Agreement on Geographical Indications signed between the EU and China.
Browse our entire collection of F&B reports, guidelines, videos and infographics in one place with our dedicated page on F&B resources. China is the third agri-food export market for the European Union. EU agri-food exports to China in 2022 reached EUR 15.8 billion EUR, accounting for nearly 7% of the EU’s total exports to the country. At the same time, China is the fifth supplier of agri-food products to the EU, with imports into the EU in 2022 reaching EUR 9.8 billion.
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