Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was surprised by a question from the Thai Prime Minister on sheep placenta cream at the ASEAN summit in Bangkok this week. In a comment that clearly took both the Ardern and O'Connor by surprise, at the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, the Thai Prime Minister specifically singled out the little-known New Zealand product as an example of how New Zealand was succeeding at moving up the agricultural value chain. Jacinda Ardern, although taken back by the comment, reported that the Thai PM was making a point about how New Zealand adds value through our agricultural products. The Prime Minister spoke on the first day of the East Asia Summit at ASEAN running about the value of free trade.

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