Editorial: We are Trumped
OPINION: Nothing it seems can be done in the short term to get Donald Trump to change his mind about removing the unfair 15% tariffs that he’s imposed on New Zealand exports to the US.
Confirmation of Japan joining the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations is an important next step in expanding the reach of those negotiations, says to Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and the Meat Industry Association (MIA.
This ensures the agreement offers significant benefits for those in the Asia Pacific region, he says.
New Zealand sheep and beef farmers, meat processors and exporters are keen to Japan included in these free trade agreement negotiations because it is an important market for New Zealand meat.
MIA chairman, Bill Falconer says: "Japan's inclusion in the TPP rounds off an exciting grouping of 12 countries from the Asia Pacific region with common interests in improving our collective trade opportunities. Together these countries account for a third of global beef production.
"The TPP partners have committed to some ambitious outcomes for market access and the New Zealand red meat industry will not want to see any delay to the goal of completing the TPP deal this year," Falconer says.
The TPP partner countries include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States of America.
The TPP negotiations offer new opportunities for all red meat exporting countries through improved market access, the elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers, B+LNZ chairman Mike Petersen says.
Exports to Japan from the red meat sector last year were $338M which last year incurred approximately $93 million of tariff payments. Approximately $76 million of these payments were incurred on New Zealand's substantial beef trade, with New Zealand facing a 38.5% tariff rate, increasing to 50% in the event certain volumes are exceeded.
"We welcome Japan's entry into the TPP negotiations and their commitment to a high quality comprehensive agreement that acknowledges the importance of facilitating production and regional supply chains for all participating countries," Petersen says.
"Achieving that will create new opportunities for us all and will help us do business more easily and transparently."
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Minister Winston Peters is ratcheting up pressure on Fonterra farmers as they vote on divesting the co-operative’s consumer and related businesses.
Alliance Group's Pure South Handpicked 55 Day Aged Beef has been recognised on the world stage, securing top honours at the World Steak Challenge in the Netherlands.
Meat co-operative, Alliance has met with a group of farmer shareholders, who oppose the sale of a controlling stake in the co-op to Irish company Dawn Meats.
Rollovers of quad bikes or ATVs towing calf milk trailers have typically prompted a Safety Alert from Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation dedicated to fostering a safer farming culture across New Zealand.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
A group of Kiwi farmers are urging Alliance farmer-shareholders to vote against a deal that would see the red meat co-operative sell approximately $270 million in shares to Ireland's Dawn Meats.