Meat and Wool New Zealand Welcomes FTA Success

"This is a great accomplishment for New Zealand in terms of trade liberalisation," Mr Petersen said.

"The negotiations have been difficult, as New Zealand had to negotiate one-on-one with each of the 10 member countries. The New Zealand meat industry urged negotiators to keep the pressure on for full liberalisation without exclusions.

"I'm pleased that the Government took that message to the table and has been successful in delivering on it. The ASEAN group of countries is growing fast and we expect it to be a significant market for the future."

While the FTA's final details will not be known until it is signed by Ministers in December, Meat and Wool New Zealand expects to see tariff elimination over an acceptable time frame for all our products of interest.

"Although the current tariffs applied by ASEAN countries are relatively low, the maximum tariffs that can be charged are high. This agreement will eliminate the risk of tariff increases."

ASEAN is an important emerging market for New Zealand meat products. Phenomenal growth, especially in Indonesia, means ASEAN is now the fourth most valuable market for New Zealand beef. In the year ending June 2008, New Zealand exported over NZ$150 million worth of beef to the ASEAN region, with 60 per cent going to Indonesia. ASEAN is also an important market for sheep meat and other meat by-products.

TheCattleSite News Desk

Sign up for our
regular news updates

Latest Beef Industry News

•   BLUETONGUE: NBA Get Serious Over BVD Eradication; EU Vets to Discuss Import Ban
•   USDA to Discuss TB Programme with Farmers
•   2018: Brazil to Produce 14 Million Tonnes of Beef
•   Canada to Consult WTO on COOL Regulations
•   Weekly Outlook: Soyabean Exports
•   BSE NEWS: New Mad Cow Rule Poses Health Dangers
•   Europe to Buy Beef from Minas Gerais
•   English Farms Losing Money Despite Improvements
•   NADIS Veterinary Report and Forecast - November 2008
•   CME: Relationships among Corn Price Series
•   Quiet Cattle Produce the Best Beef
•   The Gas Tax: EPA May Cost $175 Per Cow
•   Weathering the Storm: The Fate of Meat
•   Farmers Meet in Argentina
•   Fast-track Approval More Effective than GM Debate