Malcolm Bailey, the Chairman of the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand, today welcomed the opportunity for interested parties to provide input to the NZ Government on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
“This negotiation covering 16 countries is a further means of extending an open trading environment throughout the Asia-Pacific. In particular it can be a major step to substantially improve market access in countries where significant barriers to dairy exports are maintained”.
The 16 countries include New Zealand, Australia, all of ASEAN, Japan, China, Korea and India. In total these countries account for account for $6.9 billion of dairy sales or 51% of total NZ dairy exports. Included in the RCEP countries are some of the most important markets for NZ dairy products.
“Along with the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other FTA negotiations currently underway a successful RCEP would lead to an Asia-Pacific market largely free from trade barriers. It is very important that as the name suggests RCEP is a comprehensive negotiation covering all goods and service across all sectors” said Mr Bailey.
DCANZ will be making a submission to the Government with a strong recommendation to promote the RCEP negotiations with the objective of achieving open markets within the RCEP members.
For further information contact:
Malcolm Bailey, Chairman,
Tel: 021-741-165
Simon Tucker,
Executive Director,
Tel: 021-961-394
About DCANZ:
The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) was formed in July 2003 to co-ordinate and represent the collective public policy interests of its member dairy companies. Its members comprise Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd, Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company Ltd, Westland Milk Products, Fonterra Brands (NZ) Ltd, Goodman Fielder Ltd, Synlait Ltd, Miraka Ltd and Open Country Dairy Ltd.