Apple exports from New Zealand - decline!

In my two posts about our holiday to Germany and the United Kingdom, I mentioned the fall in apple exports from New Zealand.   An article in the Dominion Post for Thursday 4 August, 2011 (Page C1), goes some way to explaining what is happening.

Some of the points outlined by Jon Morgan were:

• Growers must change the industry's strategy and alter the way they market their fruit
• New Zealand's apples are sold to an unknown destination, with fruit going through two hands in Europe before finishing up in the UK
• All four major supermarket chains in Britain are supplied, but the apples go through many service providers to get onto the shelves in the high street
• We are not promoting the New Zealand brand but rather numerous independent brands

As a result of this very bleak picture 'bankers and international consumers were starting to question the industry's viability.'

These solutions were given:

• One point of entry for the majority of Braeburn apples going into the UK
• Using collective shipping
• Promotion of "Brand New Zealand" rather than a myriad of brands which were not necessarily obvious as from New Zealand
• Eliminate marginal apple varieties
• Get the marketing right for entry into the new Australian market

Is there an apple exporter among our readers who would like to comment?

Apples and NZ Being Sued by US Multi-nationals ?

The International Economic Law and Policy Blog picks up many of the big trade issues that are being discussed in world fora.   If you are interested you can subscribe to email notification when new posts are available.  The Blog's URL is:  http://worldtradelaw.typepad.com/ielpblog/


Two of the recent issues that interested me were notification that Australia has until August 117th of this year to get organised to issue import permits for New Zealand apples.  Here is the URL for that post:

http://worldtradelaw.typepad.com/ielpblog/2011/02/implementing-australia-apples.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ielpblog+(International+Economic+Law+and+Policy+Blog)


The other is the  investor-state dispute clause which allows multinational companies to sue governments if they lose profits as a result of new regulation - these are a feature of US trade deals.   According to this post New Zealand could get itself involved in these through accepting this clause in the TPP talks.  See the post for comments by John Key and Russel Norman:

http://worldtradelaw.typepad.com/ielpblog/2011/02/update-on-new-zealand-and-investor-state.html?utm_source

DS367

This is the number for the "apple access case" between Australia and New Zealand which will be aired at the WTO headquarters in Geneva beginning on Tuesday June 30,2009. New Zealand apples have been banned in Australia for 88 years because of the presence of the disease fireblight in New Zealand. Details of the dispute can be found at the WTO site at:

http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds367_e.htm

The mural “Le bienfait des loisirs”, painting by Gustave-Louis Jaulmes, Salle des Pas Perdus in the WTO Building in Geneva with its very peaceful and pastoral scene certainly belies the difficulties of this case from New Zealand's point of view.