China signed a deal Monday to lift a ban on French beef and said discussions to buy Airbus planes remained open as French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe ended a four-day visit.

The beef ban was imposed over a decade ago as Beijing started closing off its markets to all European imports, and later to US beef imports, in the wake of the "mad cow" disease scare.

Philippe and Premier Li Keqiang oversaw the signing of an agreement to lift the embargo, which French producers say will put their beef back on Chinese plates by September.

"We are already in contact with Chinese buyers," said the president of French beef industry group Interbev, Dominique Langlois, who said the aim was to export 30,000 tonnes per year.

The accord was the culmination of an agreement reached when French President Emmanuel Macron met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing earlier this year.

China had also committed to buying 184 single-aisle A320 Airbus planes during Macron's January visit, but the deal has not been finalised.

"We are ready to continue discussions on the purchase of Airbus planes in a timely manner," Li said.

Airbus could stand to benefit if China's looming trade war with the United States prompts Beijing to favour the European aerospace giant over US rival Boeing.

"I am happy that China has confirmed its strong willingness to finalise the commitments made in January regarding Airbus," said Philippe, who also met Xi on Monday.

A total of 18 agreements were signed in the fields of science, medicine, tourism and energy.

French nuclear group Orano and China National Nuclear Corp announced an agreement for preparatory work on a used fuel processing and recycling plant in China.

The nuclear deal, valued at more than 20 billion euros ($23.4 billion), has been in the works for a decade and could now be concluded this year.

Related Links
Farming Today - Suppliers and Technology

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

France eases rules on wine stocks to mitigate weather risks
Bordeaux (AFP) June 22, 2018
French vineyards will be allowed under new rules to hold back more of their production each year to protect them in case harvests are damaged by extreme weather including storms and drought. The move comes after a series of fierce hailstorms battered fields across France in May, the latest in a series of weather-related losses that many growers attribute to climate change. The National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO), which sets the rules governing France's prestigious wine appellations, ... read more