China warns EU against destroying cargoes


The EU has imposed a ban on poultry and seafood products from China due to health concerns

Staff and wires

BEIJING, China -- China has warned the European Union against destroying meat and seafood cargoes from the mainland that have been banned because of health concerns.

But even as the trade spat simmered, both countries signed deals worth more than 30 million euros ($26 million) to cooperate in energy and education.

China's Minister of Foreign Trade Shi Guangsheng said on Wednesday he was concerned about the threat of Chinese meat and seafood cargoes being destroyed upon arriving at European ports.

"We are very concerned some cargoes that have already arrived at ports in EU countries. Some EU countries are going to destroy these products," state television quoted him as saying.

"I have solemnly raised this issue to (EU Commissioner) Chris Patten that they have no right to destroy it as these products did not enter the customs and still belong to Chinese enterprises," Shi said.

In January this year, the EU banned shrimp, chicken, and meat imports from China after a EU mission found traces of banned veterinary medicines in samples.

In retaliation, China banned some European cosmetic products for fear they might include substances that could cause mad cow disease.

Deals struck

Shi and visiting European commissioner Chris Patten, famed for his spats with Beijing when he was the last colonial ruler of Hong Kong, attended a signing ceremony for the two deals on Wednesday.

Under the Sino-EU agreement, the EU will donate 20 million euros ($17.5 million) to China for sustainable development of energy, and protection of the environment.

"China needs to pay great attention to sustainable energy use if her spectacular growth rates, such as the ones I saw for myself in Jiangsu province, are to be maintained without this being at the expense of the environment or people's health and quality of live," the EU quoted Patten as saying.

In the second deal, the EU said it would give China 10.29 million euros ($9 million) to promote university exchanges and push European studies in China, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Trade between China and the EU totaled more than $70 billion last year, but the relationship has been dogged by disagreements involving cigarette lighters, honey and steel, in addition to meat and shrimp.

Reuters contributed to this report.