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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to New Zealand sparked a flurry of activity last week.
Of special interest was the news that a quantity of chilled meat will now be allowed into China on a six month trial basis — seen as a great step forward for our meat producers.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Trade Minister Todd McClay say it’s a win for exporters.
China is NZ’s second-largest market for beef and sheepmeat exports. Meat Industry Association (MIA) chief executive Tim Ritchie says China accounts for 35% of the volume of NZ’s sheepmeat and 17% of its beef exports.
“This latest deal will give NZ’s higher value chilled meat a foot in the door of China’s premium retail and foodservice sectors, as enjoyed by Australia since it signed its FTA with China in December 2015,” Ritchie says. “The onus will now be on the NZ industry to perform in a way that enables the rollout to occur at the end of our trial.”
Also, Prime Minister Bill English and Premier Li announced plans to upgrade the FTA between China and NZ.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says his officials plan to meet their US counterparts every month from now on to better understand how the 15% tariff issue there will play out, and try and get some certainty there for our exporters about the future.
New Zealand's red meat processing and exporting sector has welcomed the government's announcement of new work visas.
New Zealand avocado growers have received a major boost by securing a collective FernMark Licence for their exports.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says the US tariff decision appears to be based on a calculation of trade deficits, with countries running a surplus with the US moved to the higher rate.
New Zealand's red meat sector says the United States' decision to increase tariffs on New Zealand exports is disappointing.
'Common sense' cuts to government red tape will make it easier for New Zealand to deliver safe food to more markets.
Balclutha farmer Renae Martin remembers the moment she fell in love with cows.
Academic freedom is a privilege and it's put at risk when people abuse it.
All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.
Claims that some Southland farmers were invoiced up to $4000 for winter grazing compliance checks despite not breaching rules are being rejected by Environment Southland.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
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