Nathan Guy: Open trade to feed the world

Otaki MP and Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy at the recent APEC Food Security meeting in Peru.

A few weeks ago I spent a busy couple of days in the city of Piura in Peru, South America, attending an APEC Food Security meeting.

The conference included other ministers, officials and business people from around the Asia Pacific region. A strong message I pushed to them was the importance of open trade in feeding the world.

We will never achieve food security without efficient markets to move food from nations like New Zealand to consumers around the world. We are a clear example of how removing state subsidies and controls has actually helped our agricultural sector become more successful than ever before.

Events like these are an important opportunity to meet with other countries and build closer links. I had numerous bilateral meetings and discussed a range of ways we can share our knowledge and expertise. Other countries recognise New Zealand's success as a food-producing nation and are keen to tap into our agri-technology and education.

This is a good example of how our primary sector is about more than just exporting commodities. We have many international students coming to study at places like Lincoln and Massey and our agri-tech companies are in great demand.

Meeting with other nations has also been very useful in pushing along various market access issues which will have real benefits for our exporters.

A big issue for trade we've discussed is not just tariffs but also non-tariff barriers like complicated and unpredictable rules and regulations that some countries apply at the border.

This kind of bureaucratic red tape can be a major obstacle to trade, especially for small and medium sized companies.

This is why the TPP is so important, because it sets the frameworks for consistent standards and rules across the region. Without this certainty a lot of trade and investment just wouldn't happen.

Before coming to Peru I spent a day and a half in the US state of Nebraska where I strongly pushed the benefits of the TPP.

It is a hot topic in the US with both presidential candidates sceptical, but there is support in the broader community and some optimism from people I spoke to that it will pass during Congress's 'lame duck' period following the election.

While in the US I pointed out the Asia-Pacific region has enormous growth potential and is determined to liberalise trade, whether the US is involved or not.

As part of this visit I spoke to a Global Forum on Agriculture and Trade, held a press conference and met with various industry and other leaders including congressman Tom Ashford.

It was pleasing to hear strong support for TPP from the wider agricultural sector but as in New Zealand to some extent, the challenge is communicating the benefits to the wider community.

Another eye-opening part of the trip was visiting a desert in northern Peru where T&G (Turners and Growers) is growing grapes with the help of irrigation, water storage and New Zealand expertise.

It was hard to believe that much could grow in these hot dry conditions but it just reinforced to me the huge potential of water storage.

- Nathan Guy is the Minister for Primary Industries