Trade role boosted

BLNZ chairman James Parsons told Rural News he expects to visit the US and the northern hemisphere this year to help protect access for NZ beef and sheepmeat.

He says the issue of trade is now much higher, and risks and uncertainty are greater in these markets. Two BLNZ directors are now in those regions and others will visit later in the year.

“It’s to maintain good relationships with our counterpart farming groups in Europe and US and stay close to the NZ government to see how things might unfold.

“We are not looking to profit and don’t see Brexit as an opportunity. It’s more to ensure there is no disruption to trade in Europe and the UK.”

BLNZ doesn’t have an office in the US and Parsons says most trade policy issues are handled by Wellington staff who are experienced and know the US well. The objective is maximum results for NZ farmers without the expense of staff offshore.

Parsons says the lack of an FTA with Japan – which Australia has – is a problem.

“We are already seeing our exports into Japan decline by about 11% since Australia signed up their FTA.

“We’d hoped the TPP would level the playing field for our beef.”

Parsons says lower tariffs on beef exports to Japan would be great for NZ farmers.