New Zealand Secures Major Dairy Trade Agreement with UAE, Eliminating All Tariffs

"New Zealand exported approximately NZ$700 million worth of dairy products to the UAE over the last year, making it our 10th largest dairy market. The elimination of all dairy tariffs provides critical certainty for the continued growth of this trade," said DCANZ Executive Director Kimberly Crewther.

DCANZ praised Trade Minister Todd McClay and New Zealand's trade negotiators for securing the high-quality agreement. "They have shown that it is still possible to achieve comprehensive agreements that eliminate all dairy tariffs, even in today’s increasingly complex global trade environment," Crewther added.

A report by Sense Partners in 2023 revealed that New Zealand's dairy products faced over NZ$1 billion in tariffs across global markets, with 86% of global dairy consumption occurring in regions with tariff barriers of 10% or more. This includes ongoing tariffs in markets such as the European Union and Japan, where New Zealand already has trade agreements in place.

"The UAE deal is a significant step toward reducing protectionism in international markets for New Zealand dairy products. We urge the Government to continue pursuing similar high-quality agreements with other trading partners and to seek upgrades to existing trade deals that still maintain dairy tariffs," said Crewther.