Articles by Dominique Patton | Alberta Farmer Express

Food exporters to China asked to declare produce coronavirus-free

Declaration puts onus on exporters for product safety

By Dominique Patton, GFM Network News June 19, 2020

Beijing | Reuters — China’s customs authority has asked food exporters to the country to sign a declaration their produce is not contaminated by the novel coronavirus, three people who received a letter said on Friday. The declaration, seen by Reuters, may be an effort by China to reduce the additional testing it has carried […] Read more

Barley, Crops, Markets, Reuters

China hits Australia with barley tariff

Duty to last for five years; China may turn to Canada, other exporters

By Colin Packham, Dominique Patton, GFM Network News May 19, 2020

Beijing/Sydney | Reuters — China added to tensions with Australia on Monday by announcing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties totalling 80.5 per cent on Australian barley imports from Tuesday (May 19), which is expected to all but halt a billion-dollar trade between them. China’s ministry of commerce said it had confirmed dumping by Australia and significant […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Markets, Reuters

China’s beef imports to drop as hotpot comes off the boil

By Dominique Patton, Sophie Yu, GFM Network News April 13, 2020

Beijing | Reuters — Just over two months ago, the Jinyuan Fucheng Beef Hotpot restaurant in northern Beijing had a long line of customers waiting outside its doors almost every night of the week. Now, the restaurant that can seat 800 barely fills 20 tables a day, with most people still wary of dining out […] Read more

Canola, Crops, Markets, Reuters

China to resume imports of Canadian canola, sources report

By Dominique Patton, Hallie Gu, GFM Network News March 31, 2020

Beijing | Reuters — China has agreed to allow imports of Canadian canola to resume, two sources briefed on the matter told Reuters on Tuesday, lifting a ban in place since March 2019 that had halted US$2 billion worth of trade. The agreement was reached during a call held by China’s customs administration and Canada’s […] Read more

Reuters

China, France sign deals worth $15 bln during visit

By Dominique Patton, Marine Pennetier November 6, 2019

Beijing | Reuters – China and France signed contracts totalling $15 billion during a visit by President Emmanuel Macron, a Chinese government official told a news briefing on Wednesday. Deals were struck in the fields of aeronautics, energy and agriculture, including approval for 20 French companies to export poultry, beef and pork to China. They also agreed to expand […] Read more

Crops, Markets, Reuters

Trump’s hailing of Chinese farm purchases seen as ‘meaningless’

By Dominique Patton October 14, 2019

Beijing | Reuters — China is still a long way from forking out US$50 billion for farm goods from the United States, agriculture industry analysts said on Monday, cautioning that getting there is contingent on removing substantial technical and political hurdles. Outlining the first phase of a deal to end a trade war with China, […] Read more

Hogs, Livestock, Reuters

China to suspend pork imports from Quebec processor

By Dominique Patton, Hallie Gu June 18, 2019

Beijing | Reuters — China will block pork imports from a third Canadian firm after a shipment was found to contain the banned feed additive ractopamine, the customs agency said on Tuesday, deepening a trade and diplomatic dispute with Canada. The firm in question is Frigo Royal, the agency said on its Wechat account. Ractopamine […] Read more

Canola, Crops, Markets, Reuters

China’s ban on Canadian canola expands to Viterra

By Dominique Patton, Julie Gordon March 26, 2019

Beijing/Ottawa | Reuters — China expanded its ban on Canadian canola seed imports on Tuesday to include shipments from Viterra, the latest development in a wider trade dispute between the two countries. Viterra is the second canola exporter to have its registration cancelled, after Beijing halted shipments from top exporter Richardson International earlier this month. […] Read more

Hogs, Livestock, Markets, Reuters

China’s pork imports seen doubling in 2019 on swine fever impact

By Dominique Patton, Hallie Gu March 22, 2019

Wuzhen, China | Reuters — China’s 2019 pork imports are set to double from last year to two million tonnes, a Rabobank analyst said on Thursday, as African swine fever hits production of the meat in the world’s top hog market. China has reported 113 outbreaks of the contagious disease since last August, though farmers […] Read more

Hogs, Livestock, Reuters

Piles of pigs: Swine fever outbreaks go unreported in rural China

By Dominique Patton March 20, 2019

Baoding, China | Reuters — When pigs on the Xinda Husbandry breeding farm in northern China began dying in growing numbers in early January, it looked increasingly likely that the farm had been struck by the much feared African swine fever, an incurable disease that has spread rapidly across the country since last year. But […] Read more

Ontario to insure for crop loss due to lack of labour

U.S. livestock: Ham prices lead lean hog futures higher

Newfoundland farmers may shoot problem moose at night

GFM Network News