A coalition of the country's food and agricultural organisations is confident its wish list for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement lines up with the Government's aims.
The 13 coalition members, representing most producers, processors and exporters of food and agricultural goods, have written to the ministers of trade and primary industries, Tim Groser and Nathan Guy, listing seven core principles they say the TPP deal needs to meet.
Among other things they say it must cover is the entire area of trade and investment, with no products or sectors excluded.
Fonterra senior trade policy consultant Ken Geard says it follows discussions earlier in the year with American agriculture representatives who have adopted the same aims.
"Minister Groser was present at the original meeting in May and we know that he shares the views about eliminating tariffs and comprehensiveness," Mr Geard says.
"So I think we are confident that our views in this letter align ... very closely with New Zealand government policy."
Another of the principles is to have all tariffs and other market access barriers phased out by the end of any transition period
Negotiators are aiming to have the TPP talks completed by the end of the year.
