O'Connor announces further investment in soil
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced a $6.25 million investment in mapping New Zealand’s most valuable soils.
An upgraded free trade agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and China comes into force from April 7.
"This upgrade is a significant step for us and forms part of a body of work we're doing to drive our economic recovery from Covid," Trade and Export Minister Damien O'Connor says.
The date was agreed in a virtual meeting last week between O'Connor and his Chinese counterpart, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.
Goods and services exports between China and New Zealand reached $20.1 billion in the year ending June 2021. O'Connor says New Zealand businesses will benefit from up-to-date rules underpinning trade.
"This upgrade modernises the original 2008 New Zealand-China FTA to ensure it remains fit for purpose," he says.
The upgrade also includes new market access commitments in goods and services, and additional trade facilitation measures.
"In terms of goods, the upgrade will deliver further market access improvements, resulting in tariff-free access for 99 percent of New Zealand's $4 billion wood and paper trade to China, once fully implemented.
"Our existing FTA will also be augmented by new chapters in e-commerce, competition policy, government procurement and the environment."
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.
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