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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 4, 2021
O’Connor off to Europe, US for more trade talks Staff reporter TRADE and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor has flown to Europe and the United States to advance New Zealand’s trade and economic interests with key partners, including representing New Zealand at the G20 Trade Ministers’ meeting in Italy. It follows recent engagement between Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to progress a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU-NZ FTA). “Securing a high-quality and comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU represents a huge opportunity for New Zealand exporters, opening up a market with a population of close to half a billion people,” O’Connor said. The EU is New Zealand’s fourth largest trading partner with two-way goods and services trade at over $15 billion per year. “An FTA with the EU will also provide a more level playing field for New Zealand exporters, contribute to New Zealand’s covid-19 recovery, and to help build a more resilient export profile. O’Connor will be accompanied by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Deputy Secretary and chief negotiator for the EU-NZ FTA Vangelis Vitalis. During the visit to Europe, O’Connor will travel to Sweden, France, Ireland and Italy, where he will meet with counterparts to discuss the benefits of closer
PROGRESS: Trade Minister Damien O’Connor aims to use his trip to advance the prospects of a free trade agreement with the European Union.
co-operation, including advancing progress towards conclusion of the EU-NZ FTA. “I have had a number of constructive calls this year with European counterparts across the Union and I have been encouraged by the ambition that they share with New Zealand on the FTA,” O’Connor said. “New Zealand remains absolutely committed to a high quality and comprehensive FTA with the EU. We are one of the EU’s most like-minded partners, but the lack of an FTA remains a disappointing anomaly that is in both of our interests, and our reach, to resolve.
O’Connor will also represent New Zealand at the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting, which Italy invited him to attend as chair of the APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade. “This is an important and rare opportunity for New Zealand as a small nation to engage in the G20 format. I believe it reflects well on the broader work Aotearoa New Zealand has undertaken this year as chair of APEC.” En route to Europe, O’Connor will undertake a series of engagements in the US, including meeting with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
“The United States is New Zealand’s third largest trading partner, a key source of high-quality investment and one of our most important international partners. In Washington, I will be talking to US counterparts about how we can work together to keep our bilateral trade and economic relationship on its current growth trajectory.” O’Connor and his travelling delegation have been fully vaccinated and will comply with any host government covid-19 restrictions and testing requirements. Upon return to NZ on October 15, they will complete 14 days of MIQ.
Yearling bulls top $17,000 twice Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz STOKMAN Angus, Rotorua, made the very good average price of $5361 across a full clearance of 87 yearling bulls on September 29, with a top price of $17,000 paid by a commercial beef farmer. Stokman Brickyard R221 has very good breeding values for growth, eye muscle area and intramuscular fat. The same top price of $17,000 for the yearling bull sale season so far was also made by Waiterenui Angus and the Macfarlane family near Hastings. That was paid by Hallmark Angus for Waiterenui Black Pudding R198. Waiterenui had a full clearance of 40 bulls and averaged $4835. Twin Oaks Angus at Te Akau had a top price of $12,000 paid by Rockley Angus and averaged $5210 across 50 sold out of 53 offered. Black Ridge Angus, Taumaranui, offered 25 and sold 22 with an average of $5095 and the highest price was $11,000 paid by Turiroa Angus. Riverton Herefords and Ezicalve, selling at Whanganui, had a full clearance of 102 yearling bulls, averaging $3732 and a top of $6000 paid by a commercial farmer. The Cranstones and Morrisons also cleared 35 two-year-old Hereford bulls averaging $3785. Shadow Downs Herefords, Waverley, had full clearances of 15 yearlings and 47 two-year-olds averaging $3093 and $2814 respectively. Bushy Downs Herefords, Te Awamutu, offered over 90 bulls in total and sold 31 yearlings and 58 two-year-olds, averaging $2790 and $3574 respectively. Short gestation specialist Shrimpton’s Hill Herefords at Cave sold an extraordinary 165 yearling bulls with only one passing and averaged $2400 with a top of $3400. Waitangi Angus, Bay of Islands, sold 75 out of 78 offered, averaged $3961 and the highest price was $6800 paid by a commercial farmer. Merchiston Angus, Hunterville, sold 21 of 23 yearling bulls, averaged $3200 and topped at $6800. Motere Angus, Omakere, sold 26 of 28, averaged $3143 and had a top price of $7200.
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