This week, the Congreso Maizar 2026, an industry conference for corn and sorghum producers in Argentina, was held in Buenos Aires, the capital. According to Argentine newspaper La Ciudad, discussing how to maintain Argentinas reputation as the largest export market for beef to China is one of the key topics discussed at a seminar on Argentine-China relations.
According to reports, Diego Gellar, former Argentine ambassador to China, recalled at the meeting that Argentinas credibility in terms of hygiene in China was even higher than that of the United States. In recent years, the number of slaughterhouses allowed to export beef to China has increased from 8 to 96.
But he also mentioned that a batch of Argentine beef was returned by China recently due to the detection of prohibited antibiotics. If such an incident occurs again, we will lose Chinas trust, he warned.
In this regard, Geral called on the government to proceed with caution in implementing regulatory reforms, and to be vigilant against policies that could weaken the functions of regulatory agencies and health oversight.
Source image: In 2017, Diego Gilar, then Ambassador of Argentina to China (left). Xinhuanet
According to the Call to Action newspaper, participants unanimously agreed that Argentina is facing a historic opportunity, with the potential to strengthen its position as a global supplier of food, energy, and minerals.
They also warned that Argentinas current challenge lies in transforming this export potential into domestic economic growth, while maintaining the trust of key markets like China in Argentinas healthcare and commercial standards.
Gilar pointed out that Argentina is striving to become a strategic supplier for both China and the United States. These two nations currently account for half of the worlds gross national product. The 21st century is the century of China and the United States. These two competitors are also their most important partners.
In this context, he believes Argentina is in the most favorable position – far away from major geopolitical conflicts – and has the ability to become a strategic participant in the global supply chain. He said that Argentinas recent export records prove that the country is on the right path.
It should not be seen merely as an opportunity, as that would make us seem like opportunists. Instead, it should be viewed as a significant responsibility towards the world: to provide supplies for the global community in times of crisis.
From the Undersecretary-General for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries of the Argentine Ministry of Economy, Manuel Chiappe, said that Argentina-China relations are strategic, stable, and mature.
He pointed out that as a major global exporter of agricultural products, the Chinese market is extremely large. The country imports approximately $200 billion in agricultural products each year. Argentina currently accounts for only about $9 billion in imports, ranking eighth among suppliers. This means that there is still significant room for improvement in its cooperation with China.
Chapa explained that his department primarily promotes technical cooperation and trade activities with China. He specifically mentioned that Chinas 15th Five-Year Plan clearly identifies the protection of arable land, food security, and the revitalization of the seed industry as the core pillars of its agriculture, rural areas, and farmers policies. This has opened up a strategic window for technical cooperation between Argentinas government agencies such as the Argentine Agricultural and Livestock Technology Research Institute (INTA) and China.
It is reported that the seminar also discussed Argentinas role in maintaining a delicate diplomatic balance between China and the United States. Cecilia Ibáñez, a member of the Argentine Free Progress Movement party, said that Argentina has political alliances with the United States, while maintaining friendly relations with China. This aligns with the economic opening policies pursued by the current government.
She also suggested that, as China and Vietnam continue to strengthen institutional and civilian-level connections between the two countries, their cooperation should expand from agricultural trade to areas such as tourism and investment.
The former Ambassador of Argentina, Geral, agreed with this statement. He mentioned that currently, China has around 150 million outbound tourists each year, while the number of tourists from Argentina to China is only between 20,000 and 30,000 per year.
Geral said that he believes the opportunities for Sino-China relations go far beyond food exports. We must provide convenience for them (Chinese tourists).
According to the latest data from the Argentine Beef Promotion Association (IPCVA), between January and February of this year, Argentinas beef exports worldwide amounted to 101,900 tons. Of this total, exports to China accounted for 62,500 tons, accounting for a significant 61.4% of total exports. This represents a year-on-year increase of 28.8%.
According to a report by China Trade News on the 25th, regarding the import quota measures for beef implemented by China this year, George Breit Schmitt, chairman of IPCVA, stated that Argentinas annual quota of 511,000 tons is highly consistent with its actual exports to China. The association is confident that it will be able to meet its annual quota. As of May, Argentina has already completed approximately 165,000 tons of imports, achieving a quota utilization rate of 32%.
China Ministry of Commerce Website
He also revealed that the association is actively discussing with the Chinese side to accelerate the approval process for factory qualifications, in order to further expand export volumes. The association also plans to include more product categories, such as mutton and other related products, within its export scope. Additionally, it aims to expand brand promotion efforts in inland markets like Chongqing.
Regarding the issue of market concentration, Blitterschmidt emphasized that China remains Argentinas largest beef export market. The supplementary quotas for exports to the United States are independent of those related to exports to China, and they do not conflict with each other. Therefore, they do not have any substantial impact on the current export pattern.
