Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade
When it comes to international trade, politicians from all sides of the aisle are united, says Labour's trade spokesman Damien O'Connor.
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor says the move to ban live exports by sea puts New Zealand in step with like-minded partners on the importance of animal welfare.
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor is unrepentant about the ban on live exports by sea, hailing it as putting New Zealand in step wth like-minded partners on the importance of animal welfare.
He says Australia has moved to phase-out the live export of sheep, and animal welfare standards are bedded into our FTAs with the UK and the EU.
"Recent talk of restarting live exports by sea simply ignores the reality that our consumers overseas take issues of sustainability, climate and animal welfare seriously, which is why they're reflected in our recent FTAs," he says.
O'Connor says in a market where consumers are becoming more and more discerning about ethical and environmental credentials, his government has moved to ensure that NZ's reputation for ethical trade is not at risk.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.