Friday, 19 August 2022
DairyListenOpinionSheep and BeefRural PropertyHorticultureVideo
InvercargillKaikouraReeftonWestportBlenheimNelsonMotuekaWellingtonMastertonGreymouthHokitikaGoreDunedinQueenstownOamaruWanakaTimaruAshburtonChristchurchParaparaumuLevinPalmerston NorthRotoruaWhakataneHamiltonTaurangaThamesAucklandDargavilleWhangareiTokoroaTe KuitiWhanganuiDannevirkeHastingsNapierNew PlymouthGisborneTaupoTaumarunuiKaitaia
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
The Country

Damien O'Connor on NZ-UK trade deal - 'Devil's always in the detail'

21 Jun, 2021 04:00 AM2 minutes to read
Minister for Trade Damien O'Connor. Photo / Supplied

Minister for Trade Damien O'Connor. Photo / Supplied

The Country

Zero-tariff trade talk between the UK and Australia has some hoping a similar deal can be achieved for Kiwi farmers, but Minister for Trade Damien O'Connor says there will not be a one-size-fits-all deal.

"There's a different basket of goods to offer and to trade," O'Connor told The Country's Jamie Mackay.

New Zealand wasn't the same size as Australia and offered a different market potential for the UK, O'Connor said.

"We come from the same part of the world, there are traditional links, but we have to negotiate our own trade agreement."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

A free trade deal with the UK was a work in progress, and the Government wasn't going to "compromise quality for speed."

There was some momentum off the back of the Australia-UK deal, which was putting pressure on New Zealand officials who still needed to work through the details, O'Connor said.

"The devil's always in the detail when it comes to trade agreements."

Listen below:

While O'Connor believed he could get "close to an agreement in principle" there was no commitment to sign, as it would all depend on the final deal.

"There are some indications of some very positive progress to be made in this and we need to secure the rules of trade with what is a very traditional and valuable market."

Related articles

Business

Listen: Why don't Kiwis want to work on farms?

19 May 01:30 AM

Watch: Jacinda Ardern and Jamie Mackay talk EVs at Fieldays 2021

18 Jun 03:30 AM

Australia-UK trade deal raises hopes in New Zealand

24 May 09:00 PM

Meet the 2021 Fieldays Innovation Awards winners

20 Jun 10:00 PM

O'Connor wouldn't speculate on which exports would be the "winners" from the deal but he said there was "lots to be gained" from having more open borders and fair trade.

While the agreement with the UK seemed to be making progress, trying to negotiate with the EU would be a challenge, O'Connor said.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"[It's] always difficult to get approval from not just one country, but a number of them."

The EU was a bigger, high-value market, with a potential to grow New Zealand's exports volume – within reason, O'Connor said.

"Not swamp the market, as some might fear, but actually just to grow the opportunities."

Also in today's interview: O'Connor talked about Fieldays and the return of Winston Peters.

Subscribe to The Country edm

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

The Country

Opinion: Why farmers can't ignore climate change

18 Aug 03:00 AM
The Country

Live: Storm strikes Auckland - yacht sinks; slips and flooding cut off Far North

18 Aug 01:53 AM
The Country

The Country Full Show: August 18, 2022

18 Aug 01:30 AM
The Country

Silver Fern Farms moving towards coal-free future

17 Aug 11:30 PM
Premium
The Country

Seeka's wild ride through a stormy horticulture half year

17 Aug 10:33 PM

Most Popular

'Frightening, out of control' - Nelson residents flee as river bursts; Auckland also in firing line
The Country

'Frightening, out of control' - Nelson residents flee as river bursts; Auckland also in firing line

17 Aug 08:33 PM
Weather: State of emergency declared for the West Coast
The Country

Weather: State of emergency declared for the West Coast

16 Aug 08:20 AM
Rare red warning issued for South Island as almost a metre of rain forecast
The Country

Rare red warning issued for South Island as almost a metre of rain forecast

16 Aug 01:11 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsHouse RulesSubscribe to NZ Herald
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP