Battle for milk
OPINION: Fonterra may be on the verge of selling its consumer business in New Zealand, but the co-operative is not keen on giving any ground to its competitors in the country.
NZ was the first country to sign a free trade deal with China in 2008 and our primary sector, particularly dairy, has benefited greatly. A big chunk of Fonterra’s earnings come from sales in Greater China.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.
“Foreign interference of this nature is unacceptable, and we have urged China to refrain from such activity in future,” he says.
A few years ago, when the Australian Government publicly accused China of spying, retaliatory bans on wine, grain and wheat were slapped by Beijing. Here’s hoping that the Chinese won’t do such a thing to our exports.
