Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade
When it comes to international trade, politicians from all sides of the aisle are united, says Labour's trade spokesman Damien O'Connor.
NZ's free trade deal with the United Kingdom is a step closer, with the legislation enacting the deal having its first reading in Parliament in late July.
Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O'Connor says steady progress is being made toward ratifying the UK FTA.
"The elimination of tariffs, almost all when the agreement comes into force makes the UK FTA a gold-standard agreement," he claims. "It's one of the best deals we've ever negotiated and will boost our economy by up to $1 billion and provide us further economic security."
Negotiations were launched on the UK FTA in June 2020 and reached agreement-in-principle in October last year. Once both New Zealand and the United Kingdom have completed their ratification processes, the FTA can enter into force.
O'Connor says the Government aims to complete New Zealand's ratification processes by the end of this year.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.
Fears of a serious early drought in Hawke’s Bay have been allayed – for the moment at least.

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