Skip to content

Our People
Our Board
Our Partners

Our History

Member Directory
Find the local products or services you need from our Member Community

Member-to-Member OffersNEW
Check-out our exclusive offers for your business.

Our News
News, press releases and updates from Business Canterbury.

Bold Company
For what’s happening in the Canterbury business community.

HR Insights
Updates on HR and ER from our resident experts.

Manufacturing & Global Trade Bulletin Industry info for our Canterbury Manufacturers, Importers and Exporters.

RGB_Bold Company_Verticle_WhiteText

podcast.E2.700x450

Listen to some amazng business owners as they share their learnings, challenges and more on The Bold Company podcast, from Business Canterbury.

Advocacy
Championing our members’ views on policies and decisions at local and national levels so your voice can be heard.

Business Growth
Providing our members with experts who have the right knowledge, resources and contacts to help your business grow.


Contact us today to see how we can help.

Human Resources
HR/ER advice & consultancy, courses and customised training. 

Manufacturing
Inspiring Canterbury manufacturers to innovate, thrive, & succeed.

Global Trade
Ensuring members can navigate & thrive in the international marketplace

Export Documentation Services

PREPARE FOR THE EVOLUTION (Presentation (169)) (5)

Learn how membership with Business Canterbury can help you take your business in the direction you want it to go. 

Standard Memberships

Connect Membership
To grow your network and access member benefits.

Thrive Membership
To take your business to the next level with extra business support.

Invest Membership
For our highest level of support and advocacy

Lite Subscription
A taste of what we can offer you.

More Options

Manufacturing Membership
Just for Manufacturers

Global Trade Membership
Designed for Importers and Exporters

HR Advice Membership
Expert HR Access

HR Premium Membership
Highest Level HR/ER Support

WHAT IS CANTERBURY TRUSTED?

Canterbury Trusted recognises business excellence across our region, as awarded by Business Canterbury.

Why choose a Canterbury Trusted brand

LEARN MORE

About Canterbury Trusted
Differentiate yourself from your competitors.

Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Us

BlogHero.1024x51.QCBS.Aug23

ABOUT ADVOCACY

Our advocacy work programme ensures our members’ views are represented on policies and decisions at a local and national level.

LEARN MORE 

Grow knowledge, build capability and make connections through our events and learning opportunities.

No one does networking like Business Canterbury. Check out our events designed to engage, inform and help you expand your network.

Visit our Eventbrite page to

HR Essentials.600x300

DON'T MISS

HR Essentials HOT

30 April: 1-day workshop to cover essential HR tools for local businesses. Including retention and  addressing critical challenges in today's labour market...

Daniel ThomsonNov 28, 2024 11:56:50 AM2 min read

Looking ahead: NZ-US Trade

As the world awaits the return of Donald Trump to the White House, there has been a lot of conversation about what any resulting shifts in global trade dynamics might be. I thought it was a good time to add to the conversation my key observations for New Zealand farmers in Mid Canterbury. 

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Heading

To understand where we may be heading, it's useful to reflect on recent history. During Donald Trump’s previous presidency, his trade policies, particularly tariffs on imports from major economies like China, reshaped global trade dynamics. By 2019, farmers in the U.S. were struggling, many receiving federal assistance to keep them afloat.

Despite the US global trade policy at the time, New Zealand's exports to the U.S. remained generally stable. This stability allowed New Zealand's exports to the U.S. to continue to grow, even after a slight plateau during the early stages of COVID-19. The bilateral trade between New Zealand and the U.S. saw a strong recovery and growth trajectory post-pandemic and in 2023, the U.S. was New Zealand's fastest-growing major market, with a growth rate of 16%.

By the end of March 2024, the US had surpassed Australia to become New Zealand’s second-largest export market, reaching NZ$14.6 billion.  

 

What’s Driving This Growth?

This growth was driven by primary sector products dominating the goods export portfolio to the U.S. In addition, there is a strong U.S. demand for health-focused, high-quality imports. New Zealand’s reputation for safe, natural food aligns well with the growing preference for health-conscious meat and dairy. A study by Rutgers University found that American consumers prioritise health benefits, taste, and price when selecting meat products, which bodes well for New Zealand exports. With its dairy and meat products known for their nutritional quality, New Zealand is likely to remain competitive in the U.S. market regardless of global trade conditions.

  

The Relevance for Mid-Canterbury Farmers

For farmers in Mid-Canterbury, these trends are particularly relevant.

  • Core exports: Dairy, beef, sheep, and grains from the region is well-positioned to meet U.S. demand.
  • Competitive edge: Even with potential shifts in global trade, New Zealand’s focus on product quality and transparency offers a competitive edge which will hopefully see us through.


Looking Ahead

Only time will tell what the impacts will be for Mid Canterbury and we will be keeping a watching brief on any developments.

avatar
Daniel Thomson
Business Advisor, Business Canterbury
With nearly a decade of experience as a business owner, my products have been retailed in major stores across Australasia and the US, including Amazon, Woolworths, Torpedo7, Briscoes, and Decathlon. As a Business and International Trade Advisor at Business Canterbury, I specialise in helping local importers and exporters succeed in global trade.
Feel free to reach out for support.

RELATED ARTICLES