TPP spotlight focuses on NZ dairy exports

New Zealand could turn its back on a Pacific-wide free trade deal if Kiwi dairy exports are excluded from it, Trade Minister Tim Groser says.
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Mr Groser was among those meeting in Sydney over the weekend to progress talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal.

The TPP could cover close to 40 percent of the world’s economies and set boundaries for global commerce between 12 countries, including New Zealand.

Mr Groser says real progress was made during the Sydney meeting and that the finish line is in sight.

However, he said New Zealand could walk away from the deal if dairy products are excluded from it.

«We can’t do a deal that will exclude New Zealand’s number one export, which is dairy products,» he told Radio New Zealand.

«But I don’t take that pessimistic view. I think we will be able to find a way through. It won’t be the perfect deal, we have a negotiating position, we’ve said we’re ready to consider alternatives but we’re not there yet.»

But Labour’s trade spokesman Phil Goff says a second-rate deal on dairy in the TPP would contradict the agreed purpose of the agreement.

«Leaving tariffs on New Zealand agricultural exports is the equivalent of the agreement allowing trade barriers on a major Japanese export such as cars,» he said.

«A decision to leave barriers to trade in agriculture would be one-sided and unacceptable.»

Source: 3News

Mirá También

Así lo expresó Domingo Possetto, secretario de la seccional Rafaela, quien además, afirmó que a los productores «habitualmente los ignoran los gobiernos». Además, reconoció la labor de los empresarios de las firmas locales y aseguró que están «esperanzados» con la negociación entre SanCor y Adecoagro.

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