Spanish meat producers should further expand access to the Chinese market by strengthening trade ties, as China remains a key destination with strong consumer demand for high-quality Iberian pork products, said Raul Garcia Pascual, president of Spain's Interprofessional Association of Iberian Pigs (ASICI).
In an interview with China Central Television Network (CCTV), Pascual emphasized that China has become a crucial strategic market for the Iberian pork industry.
"For ASICI and for the Iberian pork sector, the Chinese market is of paramount importance. Firstly, because it highly values Iberian products of various categories, and secondly it's because of the large consumer population of the Chinese market, making it a prioritized destination for our sector," said Pascual.
He noted that Spain's pork exports to China have steadily increased since the market first opened to Spanish pork products, creating new opportunities for Iberian producers and exporters.
"In fact, it should be noted that in 2008 the market was opened, allowing Spain to export pork products to China, and since then export volumes from our country, particularly from the Iberian (pork) sector, have continued to grow steadily. The number of operators eligible to access the market has also expanded, and today these products can be found in many sales outlets, including food retailers, as well as in numerous restaurants and even hotels. Therefore, as I said, it is a highly valued product not only among the Chinese population but also among visiting tourists in China, and we emphasize that this market remains a priority," said Pascual.
Spanish Iberian pork industry leader highlights importance of Chinese Market
Spanish Iberian pork industry leader highlights importance of Chinese Market
Israel's influence on the Trump administration outsizes the already significant sway it held over previous presidencies, contributing to miscalculations that ultimately led to strikes on Iran and putting the temporary ceasefire at risk, said a U.S. expert.
After about 40 days of deadly clashes, the United States and Iran reached a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, with Israel supporting the truce. However, the truce remains deeply fragile, especially as Israel continues to attack Lebanon, which Iran has called a violation of the ceasefire and threatened a strong response if it continues.
However, the power of the Israel lobby in the United States, especially over the Trump Administration, may weaken its ability to rein in Israeli military action, said Anton Fedyashin, an associate professor at American University.
"The Trump administration has no one but itself to blame. Although it is acting in a very important context, which is the general, enormous influence of the Israeli government over all American administrations, except that under Trump, this influence of course is greater than ever before. Israel has a very powerful lobby in the United States. This is absolutely no secret; not only articles, but very good books have been written about this," he said in an interview with China Global Television Network.
Fedyashin said this influence, combined with poor intelligence, contributed to what he described as a misjudgment that Iran's government would easily fall.
"The problem is that while previous presidents have managed to somehow resist that lobby, Donald Trump seems to have completely fallen for Benjamin Netanyahu's case to convince him that the attack on Iran will be lightning fast, will achieve results very quickly. And this becomes a very important question about the quality of Mossad information, because along with Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House meeting, which happened on February 11, at least according to New York Times, was the head of the Israeli Mossad, and both Netanyahu and the head of Mossad were convincing Trump that Iran's government is on its last legs, that all it needs is a slight push, and that was a catastrophic misjudgment," he said.
US influence over Israel limited as attacks on Lebanon threaten to shatter ceasefire: expert
