DCANZ Cautiously Welcomes Japan To TPP

16 March 2013

For immediate release

DCANZ Cautiously Welcomes Japan To TPP

The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) today cautiously welcomed Japan to the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement.

DCANZ Chairman Malcolm Bailey said it is a significant achievement to have Japan enter into the TPP. However, at the same time he hopes that Japan’s entry won’t delay the conclusion of negotiations beyond the October 2013 timeline and that they will support the basic premise of TPP.

“We encourage Japan to uphold the commitment made by TPP leaders in Honolulu back in 2011, which was the comprehensive elimination of market access barriers like tariffs on traded goods,” Mr Bailey said.

Japan is a significant dairy market and its entry into the TPP provides an opportunity for New Zealand to negotiate improved access for its dairy products.

“In 2012 New Zealand exported US$536m worth of dairy products to Japan, but it is also one of the most protected dairy sectors in the world, with high tariffs on imports,” he said.

“If Japan is willing to tackle these tariffs then their joining should be welcomed by both dairy exporters and by Japanese food companies and consumers.”

ENDS

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, New Zealand Dairies Ltd, Open Country Dairies Ltd and Miraka Ltd.

ENDS

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