I was interested to see Larry Goodman’s ABP signed a three-year €50m contract to supply beef to a restaurant chain with more than 400 restaurants in China and Taiwan.

It also might include a contract to supply the chain if it enters the UK. ABP said this was a “tangible endorsement of quality beef …” and “another significant step in developing new market opportunities in light of Brexit”.

It got me wondering how tangible it is, given that Ireland still cannot export beef to China.

In 2015, ABP announced a big deal to supply US giant Sysco in deal worth up to €15m a year. However, since then amount the of Irish beef that has gone to the US market could have been carried in two carry-on bags.

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Ireland waiting on China to respond on next steps for beef access