The Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) trade team recently hosted Chinese Ambassador Dr Wang Xiaolong and members of the Chinese embassy at a Banks Peninsula farm where they learned how New Zealand’s farming systems meet Chinese consumer demand for safe, healthy and nutritious food.
The visit focused on familiarising Chinese diplomats with New Zealand farming systems, with a focus on quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainability.
B+LNZ’s CEO Sam McIvor and GM Policy & Advocacy Dave Harrison attended the day along with Meat Industry Association’s (MIA) Ashlin Chand who represented red meat processors. Also attending was Liam Corkery from KPLC consultancy who has been working closely with B+LNZ to grow our relationship with key Chinese stakeholders.
B+LNZ CEO Sam McIvor says China is an important market for New Zealand sheep and beef exports and was our largest export destination in 2022.
“Chinese consumers have high expectations of red meat imports in terms of quality, food safety, and increasingly, sustainability. New Zealand farmers have been long-standing suppliers to the Chinese market and are proud of our reputation as a trusted partner.
“Discussions during the day covered farm management, breeding, technology and innovation, and sustainable development. Willesden Farms, and General Manager Matt Iremonger who showed us around were fantastic hosts answering a range of questions and explaining how the farm operates,” says McIvor.
The China-NZ FTA, signed in 2008, continues to provide mutual benefits to both countries.
“By value, New Zealand was responsible for 58 percent of China’s sheepmeat imports in 2022 and 7.8 percent of its beef imports. Sheepmeat and beef trade to China was worth 3.66 billion and accounted for 40 percent of New Zealand’s red meat exports. China is also an important market for co-products,” says McIvor.
“We look forward to working with the Chinese embassy to further support trade between NZ and China.”
About B+LNZ’s trade policy work
Find out how we're working to improve access for sheep and beef products to overseas markets on B+LNZ’s website here.
