Tuesday, 01 August 2023 09:25

Tears of joy over EU FTA

Written by Staff Reporters

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Onions New Zealand chief executive James Kuperus.

The New Zealand onion industry has welcomed the recent signing of the free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU).

It says the agreement will see the elimination of tariffs worth over $6 million annually on NZ onion exports to the EU and has also addressed technical barriers to trade.

"The EU is the number one market for New Zealand onion exports. Tariff savings of 9.6% puts the New Zealand onion industry on a level footing with competitors such as Chile and South Africa," Onions New Zealand chief executive, James Kuperus says.

He thanked the officials in New Zealand and the EU for supporting export industries like onions, which play a key role in regional economies across New Zealand.

Kuperus says onion growers from South Auckland to Canterbury will benefit from this FTA.

"It is now important that the New Zealand Government, post-election, passes the necessary legislation to bring this FTA into effect so producers and exporters can make use of it next season."

Kuperus says the agreement is even more important given the extremely difficult season onion producers have had in the North Island.

In the year to March 2023, the New Zealand onion industry exported $143 million worth of onions to 45 countries and employed 1,050 people.

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