Chile's Ministry of Agriculture and China's General Administration of Customs Sign Agreement in August to Boost Fresh Fruit Exports to China

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chile's Ministry of Agriculture and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) signed a memorandum of understanding establishing supplementary phytosanitary requirements for Chilean fresh fruit exports to China. The agreement aims to facilitate cargo transportation, improve export process efficiency, and create better operational conditions for Chilean fruit shipments to China in the upcoming season.

The new agreement will provide new operational alternatives for areas quarantined due to the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), while maintaining the phytosanitary safety standards established by both countries. The signing ceremony took place during Chilean Deputy Minister of Agriculture Francesco Venezian's visit to Asia, which included activities in China, Vietnam, and Indonesia from August 20 to 28.

Venezian stated that he held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart—the head of China Customs—who provided and assisted with information related to Chilean products' access to the Chinese market. Following the meeting, the agreement was signed, making Chilean fruit export processes and cold treatment more flexible and efficient. He also noted that the memorandum of understanding covers areas currently under specific restrictive conditions, which will be analyzed in the coming months.

Venezian added that these mechanisms will help Chile's national export industry access the Chinese market in a better, faster, and less restricted manner, helping to enhance the position of Chilean fruit in that market and bringing benefits to Chile's fruit-growing sector.

On the same day, Chile's National Customs Service (Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile) signed another memorandum of understanding with the GACC, aimed at strengthening cooperation between the Valparaíso Regional Customs Directorate and the Shenzhen Customs District. This initiative seeks to promote trade and drive the adoption of more efficient processes for foreign trade operations between the two countries.

Venezian's itinerary in China began with participation in the 2026 APEC Customs-Business Dialogue, held in Dalian from August 20 to 21, covering topics such as trade facilitation, smart customs, food safety, innovation, and supply chains. From August 24 to 25, he will also attend the 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Safety in Hangzhou.

During this visit to China, Venezian also held bilateral meetings with authorities from various economies, including South Korea and the Philippines, to discuss sanitary and phytosanitary issues, market access, and technical cooperation. From August 26 to 28, the itinerary moves to Vietnam and Indonesia, with meetings focused on advancing sanitary and market access matters for beef, pork, poultry, live cattle, and fresh fruit—a market of growing importance for Chile's agricultural exports.

Upon arriving in Indonesia, Venezian will meet with officials from Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Trade, and the Indonesian Quarantine Authority (IQA), with the goal of promoting Indonesia's recognition of Chile as a fruit fly-free country and agreeing on dates for Indonesian inspectors to visit Chile.