TPP Concludes After Marathon Negotiating Effort

The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) acknowledges the hard work that Minister Groser and his team have put into concluding the TPP negotiations.

DCANZ is disappointed that the agreement has not delivered a more significant opening of TPP dairy markets, but knows that New Zealand negotiators made every effort to secure as much new access for dairy as possible.

“It was always going to be very hard given the starting point for dairy as one of the most protected sectors globally” says DCANZ Chairman Malcolm Bailey. “While further market opening is needed to help address price volatility in the global dairy market, the deal does contain some useful improvements.”

“We thank Minister Groser and his team for the hard line they took to secure these new export opportunities for New Zealand dairy in the face of immense pressure from entrenched protectionist interests” says Bailey

DCANZ will be undertaking a complete assessment of outcomes as fuller details of the TPP deal for dairy becomes available.

DCANZ understands the deal also includes positive outcomes for other agricultural products, and is pleased that other New Zealand primary sectors will see benefits. The good outcomes for other agricultural exports will help to demonstrate that free trade should not be feared, and by doing so create a platform for further opening of dairy markets.

“Removal of distortions from global dairy markets remains a key priority for DCANZ” says Bailey. “We will be looking closely at the trade policy landscape over the coming weeks, and talking to the government, to define a pathway forward.”

ENDS

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