Farmers welcome free trade deal with UAE
New Zealand farmers are welcoming news of a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates, a key country in the Gulf region.
British and New Zealand trade negotiators are burning the midnight oil in a bid to get a free trade agreement between the two countries.
Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O'Connor had a Zoom call about the talks with his UK counterpart, Liz Truss, last week. When the pair met in July, they made much play of the fact that they would try and come to an agreement in principle by the end of August.
At the time, O'Connor noted the pressure was on to get an agreement but conceded there were sensitive issues.
Only recently, the former NZ High Commissioner, Sir Lockwood Smith, stated that the FTA with the UK was there to be had and if the present government didn't do a deal it would be a massive failure on their part.
Last week, as Rural News went to press, there was still no deal. However, O'Connor is hopeful of a deal and said that negotiations were "continuing" toward reaching an agreement in principle.
"However, as we have always said, we need that agreement to be commercially meaningful for our exporters."
O'Connor says NZ remains committed to negotiating a high quality, comprehensive and inclusive FTA with the UK.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients is expanding its fixed price offer to help customers manage input costs with greater certainty over the coming season.
Farmers and wool carpet manufacturers are welcoming a Government decision to use wool fibre products in the construction and refurbishment of state buildings.
Beef+Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has welcomed the New Zealand Government's announcement that comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations have formally commenced with India.
Exports of dairy products will be included in the negotiations New Zealand has with India on a free trade agreement.
A new international study serves as a stark warning for New Zealanders: our health and wellbeing are in our hands, and increasing our intake of fruit and vegetables is a key step to reducing the pressure on our healthcare system.
Sustainably managing powdery mildew on grape vines has taken another step forward, with Hawke's Bay company Greencollar NZ collaborating with Agri Automation to trial an ultraviolet light prototype unit on its table grape vineyard.
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