OSLO: Norway has agreed in principle to resume exports of farmed salmon to China after a seven-year trade conflict, Norway’s fisheries minister said on Tuesday.
“For some weeks now there have been discussions between the Food Safety authorities in China and Norway on how we can ensure predictability for salmon exports from Norway to China,” Per Sandberg said in the published text of a speech.
“I am pleased to announce that we today have signed a formal agreement, which outlines the framework for salmon exports from Norway to China,” he added.
The trade conflict had been triggered by the 2010 award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. A deal to resume exports had been expected after the two countries late last year reinstated full diplomatic relations.
Norway is the world’s largest producer of farmed salmon, and the deal with China opens a large market to companies such as Marine Harvest, Salmar, Leroey, Norway Royal Salmon and Grieg Seafood.
