KiwiBrothersTM make their China debut
Zespri has unveiled the award-winning KiwiBrothersTM mascots in China for the first time to market its large kiwifruit crop.
There is widespread praise from both the primary and business sectors for the signing last week of a revamped free trade deal with China.
The signing took place in the virtual setting with Trade Minister Damien O’Connor in Wellington and China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, participating from Beijing.
O’Connor says the signing modernises the existing free trade agreement (FTA) and ensures it will remain fit for purpose for another decade.
He says the upgraded agreement comes at a time of considerable global economic disruption due to Covid-19.
“China is one of New Zealand’s most important relationships. Signing this agreement builds on the significant benefits both countries have enjoyed as a result of our existing FTA,” says O’Connor.
He says the key outcomes of the upgrade include new rules that will make exporting to China easier and reduce compliance costs for New Zealand exports, and achieve a better deal for our services exporters through expanded market access and most-favoured nation commitments.
“Our agreement is modern and deepens our relationship further to ensure that NZ exporters have the best possible access to the China market,” he says.
O’Connor says existing conditions for dairy exports have been maintained, with all safeguard tariffs to be eliminated within one year for most products, and three years for milk powder.
“This means that by 1 January, 2024, all New Zealand dairy exports to China will be tariff free,” he says.
Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) chairman Malcolm Bailey has welcomed the signing, saying it’s a good effort on the part of past and previous governments to get the FTA upgraded. Unfortunately he says it just preserves the status quo in terms of dairy exports to China. He says they were hoping that the so-called safeguards or longer term tariffs might have been removed.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.