It's just a year since the FTA came into force and the occasion was marked by a function at the Beehive in Wellington, hosted by the EU ambassador to NZ, Lawrence Meredith and the Minister of Trade and Investment, Todd McClay. The function, which doubled as Europe Day, was attended by diplomats, government officials and business people.
McClay told Rural News that the agreement has already seen a surge in exports to the EU - predominantly primary - to the value of about $1 billion. He says lamb, butter and kiwifruit are big winners, as is seafood. He says interestingly machinery exports to the EU are also up. He says the areas of growth are those that in the past faced restrictions and limitations on quota. He adds that while not all the restrictions are gone, the freeing up of these is beneficial to NZ.
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