The meat industry says a new economic partnership between Australia and Japan puts this country's red meat exports at a disadvantage, unless a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement is achieved.
The bilateral agreement will lower Japan's tariffs on Australia beef products over about 18 years to half the 38.5 percent currently applied to its exports.
But New Zealand will continue to pay the full tariff rate to the country's fifth biggest importer of beef.
Meat Industry Association chair Bill Falconer said says beef exports will struggle to compete with Australia's without a decent TPP agreement.
New Zealand must, at the very least, secure equal trading conditions to Australia, Mr Falconer said.
