Meat exporters completing arrangements to start shipping again.   Ottawa--Canadian beef and pork should begin arriving in China in December now that the Asian country has lifted its ban on the products enabling exporters to proceed with restoring the once brisk trade, says President Chris White of the Canadian Meat Council. White led a delegation of officials from farm groups and meat companies to China in mid-November to meet with importers and government officials after Beijing announced the end of the four-month ban, which resulted from still unexplained counterfeit inspection certificates. “All companies that were shipping prior to suspension have begun the process to start exporting again,” he said. “The first containers are containers are expected to arrive there in December.” White said the protein shortage in China, much of it attributable to the devastating impact of African Swine Fever on the country's hog herd, “is significant so they are welcoming all protein companies can export.” The members of the Canadian delegation included the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, the Canadian Pork Council, Canada Pork International, Canada Beef International, Maple Leaf, Olymel, Hylife, Conestoga and Cargill. In addition to meetings in Shanghai, the delegation travelled to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing and Tianjin for meetings with the Canada-China Business Council, Import and Export Food Safety Bureau officials, food importers, retailers, Canadian trade representatives and Canadian consulates. In 2018, Canada's pork exports totalled almost $4 billion, of which $514 million was exported to China, making it Canada's third-largest export market. The Canadian pork industry was on pace to double its 2018 sales in 2019 prior to the temporary suspension. 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.