Export trade needs focus: Ag envoy

With TPP negotiations completed Waipukurau farmer and special agriculture trade envoy Mike Petersen's work has shifted his focus to Europe. Photo / File

With a notch on his belt from the conclusion of TPP negotiations, Waipukurau farmer and special agriculture trade envoy Mike Petersen is continuing to ratchet up air miles, but this time to traditional markets.

Appointed by Trade Minister Tim Groser and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy, he paves the way for trade agreements by advocating for New Zealand's farming interests from the perspective of a practising farmer.

"A large part of my role has been directed towards trying to get TPP across the line but it is not the only thing that I do," he said.

There were "day-to-day" international relationships to build and maintain, ensuring red tape did not block the flow of trade and a European free trade agreement to progress.

"I'll be doing a bit more up there I'm sure. Then there is the whole other agricultural trade agenda - not just free trade agreements but the non-tariff barriers that we face in some markets. They can't be dealt with in free trade agreements."

He said it was important to have good personal relationships with trading partners, so disagreements did not burn bridges.

"Life is about relationships. It doesn't matter if you're talking about in personal situations or business - if you can get on with people and connect then any disagreements can be dealt with at a reasonable manner.

"And that's what I do. Even with people that we have stronger disagreements with on a number of issues around trade - particularly the agricultural trade front - I still have positive relationships with them. After we have the meetings we always sit down and have a beer or something. We will talk about other things as well. I think you find that most of the time you have more in common than you have apart."

He said New Zealand businesses did not spend enough time overseas understanding value chains, forming relationships with key players and understanding the dynamics and differences of international markets.

Visiting markets corrected wrong assumptions about New Zealand and kept New Zealand on the radar.

"We rely on exports for our economic prosperity but, by and large, our exporters don't get into the market not nearly enough," he said.