Mercosur should seek more food exports to China: Argentine diplomat

BUENOS AIRES — The Southern Common Market (Mercosur) should have a bigger share in China's food imports, said Diego Guelar, Argentina's ambassador to China, on Friday.

Mercosur, which groups Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, has been the leading farm product exporter to China, representing 24 percent of China's total imports, followed by the United States with 20 percent, said Guelar.

However, Mercosur's share could be bigger by having a common agenda and sitting down with China to negotiate free trade terms, Guelar added.

"It is a market with a robust appetite for foreign products, especially for food," said Guelar, indicating China is home to more than 300 million high-end consumers, presenting exporters with untapped opportunities.

Guelar was in Buenos Aires for a presentation on meat and poultry exports during an agricultural expo.

China is Argentina's leading agricultural trade partner, its second largest trade partner overall, and its third-largest foreign investor.