Norway has agreed in principle to begin farmed salmon exports to China after a seven-year trade conflict.
“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,the Fisheries Minister 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 was caused by the 2010 award of the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. An agreemnt to resume exports had been expected after the two countries last year reinstated full diplomatic relations.
Norway is the world’s largest producer of farmed salmon, and the deal with China opens a large export market to producers.