Weekly update 18 November 2018

Full update available here

1. Government agencies: ICPR changes; Proposals to improve cost recovery in MPI's food system;   WTO Notifications; Guides to doing business in Latin America.
2. New Zealand news:  New High Commissioner to Australia New Zealand opens first embassy in Dublin; New Ambassador to Spain; Peters speech to Institute of International and European Affairs; Upgraded Singapore agreement; Substantial progress made on RCEP; Viet Nam seventh nation to ratify CPTPP; 'New Zealand could be forced to pick a side between US and China'; Improved relationship between MPI and US facility; An international rip-off or an innocent abroad; Yamaha puts $12 million into Robotics Plus; Strategic review readies NZ horticultural innovator to go global; Zespri kiwifruit harvest begins across globe; Happy medium needed in hops growth; Investment fund eyes Central Otago cherry option; BayWa reports higher turnover but lower EBIT; Seeka announces $50m rights offer to fund expansion; Asparagus grower branches into strawberries to shore up staff; Peony growers 'flat out' until Christmas; Seeka takes a win at Tauranga Business Awards 2018; Kiwifruit orchards being sold, Seeka selling $16 million worth of orchards; Further growth planned for Port of Tauranga; Australia: Biosecurity assurance for cut flower and foliage imports; Farm worker put needles in strawberries over workplace grievance; Trans-Tasman alliance to stamp out threats to national biosecurity.
3. International news: GAIN reports; British cabinet agrees on interim Brexit deal; Increasing cases of bacteria in IQF vegetables is restraining growth of the market; Resistant germs: Can raw food and lettuce be health risks?; Sustainable packaging in the floral industry; Eating green vegetables helps prevent fall injuries; UK firms makes new labels that track produce as it spoils; 9 Robots Invading primary Industry; EU accelerates digital transformation of European agri-food sector.

---