中国与爱尔兰签署牛肉出口协议
China and Ireland have signed a formal protocol on beef exports to China.
中国与爱尔兰签署一份正式的牛肉出口协议。
The protocol is related to inspection, quarantine and veterinary health requirements for frozen beef to be exported to China.
Government approval is still needed to get Irish beef into the Chinese market.
China imposed a ban on Irish beef after Europe's mad cow disease outbreak in 2000.
Also on Tuesday, the two sides signed a protocol to facilitate trade in thoroughbred horses for an emerging racing sector in China.
Irish agri-food exports to China have increased from about 240 million euros in 2012 to 780 million euros in 2016, a three-fold increase.
This makes China the third largest market for Ireland's agri-food sector after Britain and the United States.