Friday, 05 May 2023 09:55

'Gold standard' FTA welcomed by red meat farmers

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins describes the free trade agreement as a "gold standard FTA". Prime Minister Chris Hipkins describes the free trade agreement as a "gold standard FTA".

A free trade agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and the UK comes into force on May 31.

This was jointly announced overnight by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in London with his United Kingdom counterpart Rishi Sunak.

Hipkins says NZ and the UK have agreed to bring forward the entry into force of their FTA to 31 May 2023, unlocking unprecedented access to the UK market by the end of the month.

“This is a gold-standard FTA, reflecting the close relationship between our two countries. The market access outcomes are among the very best New Zealand has secured in any trade deal,” Hipkins says.

“The entry into force of our new trade deal marks a new chapter in the great friendship between our two countries,” says Sunak.

The FTA will deliver a major boost to Kiwi red meat exports by eventually allowing tariff-free access for beef and lamb into the UK.

“New Zealand exporters and farmers are looking forward to tariff free access into the UK, something we haven’t enjoyed since Britain joined the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973,” says Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of the Meat Industry Association (MIA).

“This FTA is a high-quality agreement that provides the red meat sector with greater access to a key market for New Zealand beef and lamb.

“It really opens an opportunity for New Zealand’s beef exports in a traditional market and creates new avenues for growth for the red meat sector.

“The agreement will also allow closer co-operation between the NZ and UK red meat sectors and strengthen the ties between the two countries.”

Sam McIvor, chief executive of Beef + Lamb New Zealand, says the FTA is good news for sheep and beef farmers, rural communities, and the New Zealand economy.

“Not only will this FTA support the sector to unlock further value in this important market, but it will further strengthen New Zealand’s already diverse export base.

“But we know that the UK market is very competitive with Australia also gaining greater access so we will have to work hard to realise our ambitions and seize the opportunities on offer.”

New Zealand’s free range, pasture-raised product is seasonal so complements the UK’s northern hemisphere production, says Mr McIvor.

“Both New Zealand and the UK also share a commitment to high production standards, especially in food safety and quality, animal welfare and the environment.”

The New Zealand Meat Board will be responsible for administering the FTA quotas for beef and sheepmeat in line with the robust system already in place for administering the existing World Trade Organization (WTO) quotas for red meat.

“Over the past 12 months, the New Zealand Meat Board has been working alongside our red meat sector partners planning for this milestone and all the systems are ready to go,” says NZMB general manager quota and information Nick Beeby.

More like this

Lost the room?

OPINION: Beef+Lamb NZ has run a roadshow to sell its new strategy.

Open letters

OPINION: Your old mate isn't really a fan of the recent trend toward collective whinging, otherwise known as an 'open letter'.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

Boost for hort exports

The horticulture sector is a big winner from recent free trade deals sealed with the Gulf states, says Associate Agriculture Minister Nicola Grigg.

National

Winter grazing warning

Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.

ANZ defends farm lending rates

The country's largest lender to the agriculture sector says it's not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.

Machinery & Products

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo…

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter