Be afraid
OPINION: Your old mate hears some of the recent uptick in farmer confidence has slipped since the political polls started leading a bit to the left, away from the current coalition of National, Act and NZ First.
They fear Trump's rigid stance on tariffs could destabilise global trade flows and intensify China's economic slowdown, "creating cascading impacts on Australian beef, wool, cotton, barley, and dairy sectors".
The Hound takes what any Aussie says with a grain of salt, but if this holds water, NZ will also be affected.
Like us, Australia's overreliance on China leaves it vulnerable to macroeconomic shocks.
To mitigate risks, Australian & NZ producers would benefit by doubling down on diversifying trade partnerships through FTAs, particularly in India, Indonesia, the UK, and Southeast Asia.
