fbpx
Print this page
Tuesday, 16 June 2020 08:56

EU's "unacceptable" offer for NZ

Written by  Peter Burke
EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan. EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan.

A pathetic trade offer by the European Union has raised the ire of New Zealand politicians and farmer groups, which have strongly condemned the EU’s actions.

Early last week, Trade Minister David Parker revealed that the EU had leaked details of the offer to other parties before passing the information to NZ negotiators. He described both the leak and the quality of the offer as “unacceptable” and that it reflected agricultural protectionism in the EU. 

Parker noted that presently the EU exports to NZ the equivalent of one kilogram of cheese for every New Zealander, but in return the EU is offering to take a mere three grams of NZ cheese per EU citizen. 

Phil Hogan is the EU Trade Commissioner and is ultimately responsible for putting together the deal with NZ. When he was in NZ nearly 18 months ago he told Rural News that he was optimistic that a “quality” free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and NZ could be negotiated before the end of 2019.

Federated Farmers president Katie Milne described the offer as “so insulting low” that she thought they had made a mistake. 

“Thanks to this ‘leak’, we are now aware the EU intends to continue to prevent Kiwi farmers from fairly competing in the EU market, while at the same time seeking to impose absurd obligations, such as not allowing NZ farmers to call feta cheese by its generic name ‘feta’,” she says.

Milne says it’s disappointing to see the EU’s trade negotiators ignore the long-shared relationship between the EU and NZ. 

Beef+LambNZ (B+LNZ) and the Meat Industry Association have also hit out the offer and the poor diplomacy of leaking the offer. B+LNZ’s Sam McIvor says the leaked details suggests that the EU intends to continue to promote agricultural protectionism. 

MIA’s Sirma Karapeeva says the small quota and high out-of-quota tariff makes it difficult, if not impossible, for NZ meat companies to form commercially meaningful relationships and build a stable trade in beef to the EU. She says it’s not credible for a trading partner like the EU, which purports to be a champion of free trade, to maintain small quotas and high tariffs. 

Chairman of the Dairy Companies Association Malcolm Bailey launched a withering attack on the EU Commission for the ‘offer’ saying NZ has actually got better access now so why would it want an FTA that makes us worse off.

“What they are offering is taking us backwards,” he says.

Bailey says the EU was all talk about an ambitious, high quality FTA, but says the offer is anything but, calling it a slap in the face.

“It’s very hard not to see it that way,” he says.

More like this

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

Growing trade with India

Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay made a whirlwind trip to India last month, his first overseas visit in the new role. He spoke to Indian business leaders in New Delhi. Here's part of what he said:

It's not all cricket and trade!

Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay is making a whistlestop visit to India this week to meet with his counterpart in the Indian government.

Oh, Canada!

New Zealand scored a landmark victory over Canada, stopping it from protecting its dairy industry and effectively blocking our dairy exports to that country.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.