Kate Acland: Chair of Beef + Lamb NZ on FTA deal with Gulf nations

Industry groups are rejoicing at the news of a trade deal with several Middle Eastern countries.

The deal concludes an almost two-decade effort by successive New Zealand governments and eliminates almost all tariffs on kiwi exports toBahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Chair of Beef + Lamb NZ Kate Acland tells Heather du Plessis-Allan the Gulf nations are a high value market for red meat and is forecast to be one of the fastest growing regions for cheap meat consumption.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, industry groups are pretty stoked about the news of
the free trade deal with the Golf States and the
deal we've signed with the Golf Corporation Council. It eliminates
almost all tariffs on our exports to Saudi Arabia, the
UAE and a few other countries over the next ten years.
And Trade Minister Todd McClay was on with Mike this
morning and said there's a lot of demand in these
countries for our food.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Certainly, the conversations I've had with the various countries and
all six of the trade ministers from these countries today
here when we are initialed the end of negotiation is
their desire to have long term, sustainable relationships where when
they need the food, we will supply it to them.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
Kate Aklan is the chair of Beef and Lamin is
with us. Now, Hey, Kate, Hi, Heather, Kate, are you
surprised that the live sheep experts didn't come up?

Speaker 3 (00:47):
Well, look pleasantly surprised. Yes, I mean, this is really
good news, this deal. It's not the GCC, that's not
the biggest market for red meat, but it's a really
high value market and it's for us to be one
of the fastest growing regions for beef and cheap meat consumption,
So you know, it is really good news.

Speaker 4 (01:05):
Why were you pleasantly surprised that it didn't come up,
because surely if it came up and they still wanted
our live exports, then that's a whole export there that
we can make money off.

Speaker 3 (01:16):
Look, I don't think live exports are on the table
at all, So you know, I think what we need
to do is really take advantage of the opportunity that
we have to, as the Minister said, you know, send
really high value, safe, secure food into what is a
great market.

Speaker 5 (01:31):
What kind of tariffs are you guys facing over there?

Speaker 3 (01:34):
Look, the tariffs aren't huge, but what this does that
these FDA agreements they give certainty to us that, you know,
as we are facing increasing geopolitical uncertainty and you're seeing
protectionist measures come on or the threat of protectionist measures,
these FTA is actually lock in tariff free trades. So

(01:55):
that gives us as farmers, really good certainty eat that
we have good diverse markets.

Speaker 5 (02:00):
So, given that there aren't that many tariffs that you face,
or what tariffs you face are not that high, do
you think that the removal of the tariffs is actually
going to lead to a growth in the market over
there for you.

Speaker 3 (02:12):
Look, I think it will and you know they haven't
done a lot of free trade deals with the GCC,
so actually this will give us a bit of a
it's a competitive market and this will give us a
competitive advantage over other countries like Australia who are currently
selling quite a lot of product in there.

Speaker 5 (02:27):
Are you as impressed with Tod McClay as I am?
And I wasn't expecting him to knock it out of
the park like this.

Speaker 3 (02:32):
Oh look, I think he's doing a great job. He
seems to be taking a really sort of pragmatic approach
to getting this trade deal through. So long way it continued,
it's too.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
Right, Okay, thank you man, I really appreciated. Kate Aklan,
chair of Beef and Lamb.

Speaker 2 (02:45):
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