increase font size
A Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) would transform New Zealand's agriculture and economy by involving five of our top ten export partners.
A TPP could boost our exports to the United States enormously and its only one partner, says Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers President and economics and commerce spokesperson.
"The sky is the limit given HSBC Bank says our trade with the rest of the world could grow 83 percent in the next 15 years. That outperforms the global average and is vital for us to remain a first world nation and for public services to remain properly funded.
"A 2002 a report for the US-NZ Council found a true free trade deal between our two countries would boost New Zealand exports to the United States by 51 percent. New Zealand currently exports around $4 billion to the United States; our number three trading partner.
He says Japan joining TPP negotiations "supercharges the TPP's overall potential". Japan is the world's number three economy and our fourth largest export partner. The potential is "huge" because the TPP would involve half of our top ten export partners including three of the top four.
"The crucial thing for Federated Farmers is the removal of trade barriers for agriculture. That's a non-negotiable requirement for us as the world needs to eliminate tariffs and subsidies. Free trade also needs a wider genuine commitment to services, investment and intellectual property.
"While the free trade agreements we have with the likes of Australia and China are tremendous, multilateral trade agreements are the future, such as the one we have with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)."
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.
OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to highlight the most troublesome farm pests – a serious issue that needs some urgent attention from the Beehive.
Farmers are welcoming the announcement of two new bills to replace the under-fire Resource Management Act.
The Government has announced it will immediately roll over all resource consents for two years, with legislation expected to pass under urgency as early as this week.
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.
Ravensdown has announced a collaboration with Kiwi icon, Footrot Flats in an effort to bring humour, heart, and connection to the forefront of the farming sector.
Forest & Bird's Kiwi Conservation Club is inviting New Zealanders of all ages to embrace the outdoors with its Summer Adventure Challenges.
Grace Su, a recent optometry graduate from the University of Auckland, is moving to Tauranga to start work in a practice where she worked while participating in the university's Rural Health Interprofessional Programme (RHIP).
Two farmers and two farming companies were recently convicted and fined a total of $108,000 for environmental offending.
According to Ravensdown's most recent Market Outlook report, a combination of geopolitical movements and volatile market responses are impacting the global fertiliser landscape.
Environment Canterbury, alongside industry partners and a group of farmers, is encouraging farmers to consider composting as an environmentally friendly alternative to offal pits.
OPINION: The release of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill to replace the Resource Management Act is a red-letter day…
OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to…
