Buoyed by its victory earlier this week in its World Trade Organisation dispute with Australia, New Zealand’s apple industry has turned its gaze to the Chinese market.
Lack of access to the mainland Chinese market on the basis of fireblight – the disease at the centre of the dispute with Australia – has been a sore point for the New Zealand apple industry, which sees Asia becoming the major focus of the country’s apple exports in the next few years.
The new ruling by the WTO in the Australian case, however, may provide New Zealand with a basis to reopen negotiations with Chinese authorities, according to Pipfruit New Zealand CEO Peter Beaven.
“We now have the means to go back to China and say ‘you don't need to worry about this. The science is very clear – mature symptomless apples are not a risk’,” he told The Dominion Post.
Direct mainland access would significantly boost New Zealand’s opportunities in the market compared to its current presence, which is via the Hong Kong-Guangzhou grey trade.
“If we could get into mainland China directly, we would be able to supply those highly populated northern markets in places like Shanghai and Beijing,” Mr Beaven said.
