US, New Zealand Enter Free Trade Agreement Talks

Posted by Brian Gould Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:56:00 GMT

Trade officials from the US, New Zealand and three other countries on Monday announced the launch of negotiations for the US to join the comprehensive Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement. Dairy and farm organizations from New Zealand welcomed the announcement, while the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) said it would seek the full exlusion of New Zealand’s dairy products under the trade agreement because of what it called the New Zealand dairy industry’s unique structure and “excessive manipulation” of dairy markets globally and in the US.