Editorial: NZ's great China move
OPINION: The New Zealand red meat sector, with support from the Government, has upped the ante to retain and expand its niche in the valuable Chinese market - and the signs are looking positive.
Trade issues are well traversed in the Meat Industry Association's (MIA) annual report.
The report looks at the changes and challenges that the industry faces in the COVID-19 environment, where face-to-face trade missions are less likely to happen in the immediate future.
The report singles out China, noting that the advent of African Swine Fever in that country has dominated and shaped the global meat trade over the past 12 months. It states that, in the past year, exports to China rose by 24% on the previous year.
In the year to June 2020, China became our biggest market for meat exports worth $3.68 billion. The report also talks about an industry led ‘China engagement strategy’ to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. It notes that the MIA is looking to continue to build this relationship despite the travel constraints of COVID-19.
Another major trade issue facing the meat industry is FTA negotiations between the EU and NZ, as well as Britain and NZ. Currently, political ructions in Europe and the UK are seeing our negotiations pushed back.
MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says the association is supportive of the Government’s stance on trade liberalisation and its FTA negotiations. But she says it wants to more than just words and points to the disappointing offer the EU put to NZ earlier this year.
“For a credible trade partner to come to the table with such a low offer it really does raise questions about where this might end up,” she told Rural News.
“My personal opinion is it will take some time to untangle that mess. I am not holding my breath that there will be an FTA between NZ and the EU this year – and possibly not even next year.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
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.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
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.
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.
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