Make it 1000%!
OPINION: The appendage swinging contest between the US and China continues, with China hitting back with a new rate of 125% on the US, up from the 84% announced earlier.
Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) has welcome the announcement that New Zealand and China are commencing negotiations towards a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) upgrade.
The New Zealand China FTA has supported the development of dairy trade and dairy related investment between New Zealand and China over the last eight years.
DCANZ says it is pleased that both governments have committed to exploring how this framework can be further enhanced.
“DCANZ’s priority is for more comprehensive coverage of trade during the period of transition to full tariff elimination for dairy products in 2024, in recognition of strong Chinese import demand,” said DCANZ chairman Malcolm Bailey.
DCANZ says the New Zealand China FTA is a high quality agreement, which features a complete elimination of all import tariffs on all dairy products in 2024.
However, current transition arrangements mean less than a quarter of the dairy products that China is importing from New Zealand are receiving tariff reductions.
DCANZ says the rapid expansion of Chinese consumer demand for dairy products was not anticipated when the agreement was originally negotiated.
“Extending the coverage of tariff preferences will reduce tariff related costs for Chinese consumers. It will also ensure that New Zealand exporters do not end up at a tariff disadvantage to Australian exporters as we transition towards tariff elimination,” said Bailey.
The Australia China FTA does not feature the same quantitative limits on tariff preferences for butter and skim milk powder.
Imported dairy products play an important role in complementing local production to meet Chinese consumers demand for dairy nutrition.
“Despite the expansion in both domestic production and imports over the last decade, Chinese [per capita] dairy consumption remains low. It’s around half of the Asian consumption average and a third of the global average dairy consumption level,” said Bailey.
New Zealand exported NZ$2.77 billion of dairy products to China in 2015.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) awards. As part of a series looking at this year’s rural winners, Leo Argent talked with Ginny Dodunski, winner of the Veterinary Impact Award for raising the profile of the Wormwise programme.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.