No progress yet on blocked canola seed.Ottawa-- After four months of blocking Canadian pork and beef imports, China is reopening its market to them but there's no word yet on if and when canola seed will be readmitted by Beijing.News of the reopening came just before a meat industry mission led by the Canadian Meat Council (CMC) was to travel to China to try again to resolve the blockade. It began in June over forged export certificates, about three months after Canadian canola seed was banned by China over alleged contamination in shipments.Now the mission, including beef and pork sector representatives, will focus on meeting “Chinese officials at all key ports where product lands to ensure a smooth operation moving forward,” said CMC President Chris White.The dispute is linked to the arrest of a Chinese hi-tech executive in Vancouver on an extradition warrant issued by the United States. The case is still before the courts.“We would like to express our appreciation to the Government of Canada for all of their efforts both in Ottawa and in Beijing as they worked to find a resolution to this issue,” White said. “In particular, we greatly appreciated the leadership of the Prime Minister, Ministers Bibeau, Carr, Freeland and Ambassador Barton.”Canadian meat products had made significant gains in China over recent years due to the ongoing marketing efforts of its member companies and market promotion associations, CMC said.While the canola industry has also been working to regain access to China, it isn't imminent, says Brian Innes, Vice-President of the Canadian Canola Council. “The canola situation is a bit different. Whereas there was apparent fraud with meat, China says the canola problem is about pests that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) can't find in Canadian canola.“The good news for the livestock industry helps create momentum to restore access for what used to be Canada's most valuable export to China – canola,” he said.“Last week we were in Geneva at the WTO consultations with China on canola. There was a good exchange of information, but we are no closer to reopening the market.”CFIA stopped issuing export certificates all Canadian meat shipments on June 25 after authorities discovered a certificate for a pork cargo had been forged. The RCMP have been investigating the counterfeit documents.In July, the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) said Canada presented an action plan to address some of China's concerns and was waiting for a response.CPC Chairman Rick Bergmann also thanked government ministers and officials for their work on the issue.As the Chinese pig herd has been significantly reduced by an outbreak of African swine fever, “Our producers look forward to help meet the demands of Chinese consumers for wholesome, high-quality pork,” he said.In 2018, Canada's pork exports totalled almost $4 billion, of which $514 million was exported to China making it our third-largest export market.Bob Lowe, Vice President and Chairman of the Foreign Trade committee of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, also thanked the federal government for its work on ending the blockade.The CCA has been actively engaged in discussions with government officials to help assure China of the safety of Canadian beef in order to regain access as soon as possible, he said.The federal government completed an investigation and submitted an Action Plan that has led to the re-establishment of exports to China, he said. “All establishments eligible to export as of June 25, 2019, are once again eligible.”Shipments of Canadian beef to China represented 2.6 per cent of Canada's total beef exports last year. In 2018, Canadian beef exports to China were up 19 per cent in volume and 15 per cent in value at 10,300 tonnes valued at $97 million. In the 1st half of 2019 exports to China were up 299 per cent in volume and 271 per cent in value at 11,315 tonnes valued at $96 million.Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.