Chile stepping up push for food, wine sales to Chinese consumers

BEIJING - Amid falling global commodity prices, Chile is aiming to shift the dynamics of its trade relations with China to focus more on partnering with e-commerce sites to sell its fresh food and wine to Chinese consumers.

From August 21 to 28, a group of 150 Chilean business representatives led by Vice Minister for Trade, Andres Rebolledo, held a series of activities in Beijing and Shanghai aimed at promoting trade. For the first time, the primary focus was NOT on copper, iron ore and other mining products; instead, these promotions involved more agricultural products, from fruit and vegetables to salmon and pork, mostly through e-commerce platforms.

Rebolledo was quoted as saying his Government was working with e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd to sell Chilean products on its websites.
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During the first quarter of 2015, Chilean wine exports to China rose 41% on-year, while exports of cherries, grapes, salmon and mussels also grew significantly. www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).