increase font size
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.
Trade Minister Todd McClay has used a meeting of the CPTPP hosted by Canada to take that country to task for defiantly refusing to open up its dairy market to NZ.
The Comprehensive Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a gold-standard free trade agreement of which both NZ and Canada are members. Canada is obliged to comply with the rule of the agreement, which means allowing NZ access for its dairy exports.
But in what is seen as a hypocritical and illegal stance, and despite winning arbitration actions, NZ has been unable to budge the Canadian government to comply with CPTPP rules.
McClay has in the past described Canada's action as cynical, while the head of DCANZ, Kimberly Crewther says Canada is a recidivist breaker of international trade rules and has cost the NZ dairy industry in the order of $120 million. The Canadian dairy industry is very small - there are just 1.3 million cows, but the dairy farmer lobby there is strong.
Before he left for Vancouver for the meeting, McClay told Dairy News that he'll be meeting his counterpart Mary Ng and will be raising this dispute with her directly. He says officials have met and have scheduled ongoing formal dispute process meetings, and continue to encourage Canada to meet their obligation to New Zealand.
"I have been clear, we have a good relationship with Canada, and we can work through issues, but in this case, they are not upholding their obligations to us and as a result, NZ dairy farmers are missing out on market access that was negotiated and granted under the CPTPP. This is a matter of principle and we take our obligations seriously and expect others to do the same," he says.
McClay says the ball is now squarely in Canada's court and NZ reserves the right to take any action deemed appropriate, including imposing tariffs sanctions on Canadian exports to New Zealand if this cannot be resolved at the diplomatic level.
As host of a free trade summit, this is not a good look for the Canadians who are clearly out of step with the other eleven member states.
A 100-year-old Canadian irrigation district has taken inspiration from Canterbury irrigation company Central Plains Water's success in converting from an open race irrigation system to a gravity-fed piped system.
Through its new partnership with New Zealand Landcare Trust, Fonterra has committed to funding ten $25,000 grants for wetland restoration in communities across the country.
Dry conditions are widespread but worse in some places, with rain and drought affecting farms just a few kilometres away.
OPINION: Donald Trump's focus on Canada is causing concern for the country’s dairy farmers.
Farms from Northland and northern Hawke's Bay are the finalists in this year's Ahuwhenua Trophy competition for the top Māori sheep and beef farms.
Rural retailer Farmlands has launched a new casual clothing range available across 42 stores nationwide and through its online store.
Federated Farmers says the health and safety changes announced this week by the Government represent the start of overdue reforms.
The Government is calling on rural New Zealanders to share their views on proposed regulations designed to improve the management of farm plastic waste.
For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.
After tasting 240 New Zealand made cheeses, judges have bestowed medals upon 199 of the entries.
Bay of Plenty’s top share farmers Andre and Natalie Meier are no strangers to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winning circle.
OPINION: Is it the beginning of the end for Greenpeace?
OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.
