SHARING OPTIONS:
New Zealand sheepmeat price is currently around €4/kg, whereas the Irish price is close to double that.
With Australia’s trade minister reported as being on his way to the UK next week, there are expectations that a trade deal between the two countries is getting close.
The UK is also at an advanced stage of negotiation with New Zealand and the common interest for Irish farmers in these negotiations is access for agricultural produce.
Australia and New Zealand are the top two exporters of sheepmeat in the world, accounting for 70% of global exports between them.
While New Zealand has a 228,000t sheepmeat quota (to the EU when the UK was a member), Australia has a quota for just 19,100t.