Tag Archives: Mexico

TPP negotiations need to deliver for agriculture

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New Zealand’s red meat sector is encouraging all negotiating parties in the Trans-Pacific Partnership to work tirelessly to ensure this agreement can be completed by October 2013.

Key outcomes from the completion of TPP must be the elimination of agricultural trade barriers and the opportunity for greater economic integration across the Asia Pacific region, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ Ltd) and the Meat Industry Association (MIA).

The B+LNZ and MIA chairmen, Mike Petersen and Bill Falconer (respectively) reinforced the need for reduced barriers to agricultural trade, including the elimination of tariffs and other technical barriers as a priority. Achieving that would create benefits and opportunities for all TPP members exporting red meat products.

“The TPP agreement has the potential to create new opportunities for all red meat exporting countries through improved market access, reducing both tariff and non-tariff barriers, and trade facilitation in the Asia-Pacific region,” Falconer says.

The TPP agreement also offers the opportunity to do business more easily and transparently.

B+LNZ and MIA are present at the TPP negotiating round in Auckland, meeting with the agricultural trade negotiators and talking with agricultural and meat producer representative organisations from partner countries.

Petersen says the New Zealand red meat sector had well established links with a number of producer organisations, including the Canadian and Mexican beef producers.

“Both Canada and Mexico are part of the Five Nations Beef Alliance along with Australia, the United States and ourselves. Together, we represent producers from countries that account for one-third of global beef production and approximately half of global beef exports.

“The Alliance will be presenting its views on what it considers would be a successful outcome for the beef trade from these negotiations. Our view is that we must achieve a high quality comprehensive agreement that acknowledges the importance of beef production and consumption for all participating countries.”

B+LNZ and the MIA will continue to monitor progress over coming months and, where desired, assist negotiators to address the key issues relevant to the red meat sector in order to achieve a satisfactory outcome.

Canada joins TPP

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Canada is also joining the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.

The move, announced by New Zealand Minister of Trade Tim Groser today and following the news that Mexico was to join the negotiations earlier this week,  “demonstrates how dynamic this consultation process is,” the Minister says.

“Our vision for the TPP has always been to create a high-quality and comprehensive trade agreement which over time will act as a platform for wider Asia-Pacific trade liberalisation and economic integration.”

It shows that progress is being made in building an open and inclusive agreement, says the NZUS Council.

“Canada’s decision to join the TPP negotiations following Mexico’s announcement  is further proof that TPP is open to new members who believe they can meet the high standards set by the agreement,” says NZUS Council executive director Stephen Jacobi.

“Canada is a major global economy and a long-standing friend of New Zealand.  A successful outcome to the TPP negotiations will allow the economic relationship between New Zealand and Canada to reach a new level”.

New Zealand exports to Canada in 2011 were worth $597.4 million and it was our 19th largest export market. The top exports were sheep meat, beef and wine.

Jacobi foresees tough negotiations ahead on market access for agricultural products given that Canada maintains tight restrictions on supply managed industries including dairy and poultry.

“The NZUS Council’s submission to the New Zealand Government last year made clear that we considered Canada’s supply management policies incompatible with the vision of TPP as a comprehensive, high quality and ambitious agreement.  These differences will now need to be resolved at the negotiating table”.

Jacobi noted that Japan was continuing to follow the TPP process closely.

“We look forward to Japan joining the negotiations once the Japanese Government is  confident it can meet the high ambition of TPP and consultations are complete,” said Mr Jacobi.

Like the process for Mexico, the next step with regard to Canada joining the negotiations would be for the nine current TPP participants to complete any applicable domestic legal procedures. Following this, Canada would formally join the negotiations as a new participant.

Mexico joins TPP

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Meat exporters to the Americas will welcome the news announced by Minister of Trade, Tim Groser, that Mexico is joining the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, alongside current participants Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Viet Nam.

“We believe Mexico’s participation in the negotiations will contribute to the objective of creating a 21st century agreement that will spur economic growth and development, promote innovation, benefit our consumers, and support the creation and retention of jobs, high living standards and the reduction of poverty in our countries and the broader Asia-Pacific region,” the Minister says, adding the NZ is looking forward to working with Mexico to conclude a comprehensive and balanced package, taking into account the diversity of the levels of development.

Step towards free trade area

According to the NZ-US Council,  this is another step towards achieving precisely what was first envisioned – a free trade area of Asia and the Pacific.

“This is good news for businesses which need to operate more effectively and seamlessly in the region,” says NZUS Council executive director Stephen Jacobi.

“Mexico is a steadily growing market for our products, with enormous potential for New Zealand exporters. A successful outcome to the TPP negotiations will also allow New Zealand to leverage the potential in the education and research relationships we have with Mexico.”

Mexico’s entry will make New Zealand’s competitive position in Mexico the same as the NAFTA partners, USA and Canada.

New Zealand exports to the market in 2011 were worth $414.8 million and it was our 25th largest export market. Meat and dairy are the top New Zealand exports to Mexico, with dairy accounting for 62 percent.

Jacobi says that the NZUS Council is pleased to note Mexico is joining the TPP n the same terms as those already taking part in the negotiations. This means these economies share the aspiration for an ambitious and comprehenisve 21st century agreement.

“If the momentum started by Mexico leads to a Free Trade Area of Asia and the Pacific, we would see New Zealand lift its exports by 8.5 percent above 2025 baseline levels and welfare gains to New Zealand lift by 1.35 percent of GDP.

“We look forward to Japan and Canada joining the negotiations, once both economies are confident they can meet the high ambition of TPP and consultations are complete,” says Jacobi.

ACCORDING TO NZUSC: TPP is an existing trade agreement between Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore, which Australia, Malaysia, Peru, the US and Vietnam wish to join. Eleven rounds of negotiations have been held involving the nine partners. The economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) account for over 70 percent of New Zealand’s total merchandise trade. Trade with APEC economies has been growing at an average of 4.5 percent per annum over the last 20 years. The TPP could add around $2,.1 billion to the New Zealand economy by 2025, according to research undertaken by the East-West Center in Honolulu.