Tag Archives: Trade

New Zealand and South Korea have concluded a free-trade agreement that’s expected to cut into export tariffs in the nation’s sixth-largest export market that currently run to about $230 million a year.  The deal, which was announced on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brisbane, will initially eliminate tariffs on 48 percent of current New Zealand exports, with duties largely eliminated …

A long-awaited free trade agreement between New Zealand and South Korea appears close to being inked following talks in Seoul last week. Officials concluded the ninth round of talks on Friday. Comments by both New Zealand and Korean diplomatic sources suggest the deal is imminent, with people close to the talks saying there were no “thorny issues” outstanding, with both sides in “substantial agreement”. …

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a step backwards to the days before the World Trade Organisation when the the US and Europe controlled the global trading system to the detriment of developing economies, says a former director-general of the WTO, Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand. In New Zealand for a meeting of the honorary advisers to the Asia-New Zealand Foundation, Supachai told …

New Zealand’s trade surplus in April was smaller than expected as a rise in petroleum imports more than offset increasing meat exports after farmer culled their livestock during this year’s drought. New Zealand’s export receipts outpaced imports by $157 million in April for an annual deficit of $694 million, according to Statistics New Zealand. That’s smaller than the monthly surplus …

ACT New Zealand Primary Industries spokesman Don Nicolson called for an urgent inquiry into monopoly kiwifruit exporter ZESPRI International’s operations after allegations of dodgy business practices were highlighted on TVNZ’s ‘One News’ last night. It is alleged that ZESPRI had full knowledge of the actions of their importer in China and was complicit in their actions to defraud the Chinese …

Trade Minister Tim Groser heads off to Colombia this coming week to fast-track moves to open formal free trade talks with the fast-growing Latin American nation. A Colombian FTA was put on the agenda during Prime Minister John Key’s recent official visit. Groser high-lighted agricultural technology, services and niche manufacturing as the likely winners from moves to increase New Zealand’s …

The Clark Government needs to get down to some serious strategy work after the collapse of the Cancun talks. New Zealand is at a critical point. There are strong suggestions that the key World Trade Organisation players will now change tack and build cosy clubs of their own. Their membership conditions – if New Zealand is invited to join – …

CANCUN – Amid the wreckage of world trade talks last night New Zealand’s negotiating minister, Jim Sutton, refused to play the blame game. The failure was a “collective disgrace”, he said. But there was still sufficient meat on the bones of a draft negotiating framework to give him comfort New Zealand’s interests would not be harmed immediately. The European Union …