increase font size
THE FREE TRADE deal between Australia and Japan makes a high quality TPP outcome even more important, according to the New Zealand red meat sector.
The bilateral agreement will lower Japan's tariffs on Australian beef products, over time, to about half of the 38.5% that is applied to exports from other countries, including New Zealand. This will give Australian beef producers a significant advantage in the Japanese market.
"Without a comprehensive, high quality TPP, we're now going to have a competitive disadvantage in our fifth-largest beef market, and our largest market for chilled beef," said Meat Industry Association Chairman Bill Falconer.
"We've always placed a lot of importance on a successful and high quality TPP deal that removes all tariffs on our exports,"
"We're confident that New Zealand's negotiators are doing their best to get us there, regardless of this kind of distraction."
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chairman James Parsons said the Australia-Japan deal was much less ambitious than a typical New Zealand FTA and was "in a completely different league" to the ongoing TPP negotiations.
"A high quality deal means complete tariff elimination on all products of trade interest – that's basically what New Zealand has achieved in its FTAs. It's disappointing to see Australia and Japan not get up to that standard, particularly while we're all in the middle of trying to finish a very high quality TPP agreement."
OPINION: Your old mate hears that at a recent China Business Summit, PM Christopher Luxon delivered a none-too-subtle "could try harder" report card on the red meat industry regarding its exports to China - particularly when compared to Australia.
More Australian states are embracing virtual fencing technology, opening growth opportunities for Kiwi companies like Halter.
Fonterra says its ongoing legal battle with Australian processor Bega Cheese won’t change its divestment plans.
Farmers in the Australian state of New South Wales will soon be able to use virtual fencing and herding technology to boost farm productivity.
Australian farmers advocate NFF says this year’s Federal Election will be a defining moment for Australian agriculture.
Visiting US climate change expert Dr Will Happer says the idea of reducing cow numbers to greatly reduce methane emissions is crazy.
Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for "The Twelve Pests of Christmas" in an effort to highlight the most troublesome farm pests.
The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) has given farmers in the Tararua District a boost as they rebuild following recent storms.
The Government is set to announce two new acts to replace the contentious Resource Management Act (RMA) with the Prime Minister hinting that consents required by farmers could reduce by 46%.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change would be “a really dumb move”.
The University of Waikato has broken ground on its new medical school building.
OPINION: Your old mate welcomes the proposed changes to local government but notes it drew responses that ranged from the reasonable…
OPINION: A press release from the oxygen thieves running the hot air symposium on climate change, known as COP30, grabbed your…
