Why APEC is important to New Zealand

APEC provides clear benefits for a small trading nation such as New Zealand.

Fourteen of our top 20 export markets are APEC members, including the three largest economies in the world - the United States, Japan and China. The APEC region accounts for 70 percent of New Zealand’s total trade and 60 percent of our inward foreign direct investment. Close coordination with APEC economies is vital to New Zealand’s future prosperity.

APEC assists New Zealand business by supporting trade liberalisation and promoting high-quality free trade agreements in the region. It has been successful in reducing costs of trading across borders, and provides a channel to improve the business environment. Progress in these areas will continue to make it easier for New Zealanders to do business throughout the APEC region.

New Zealand’s APEC priorities

• support for multilateral trade liberalisation
• promoting high-quality free trade agreements
• lower transaction costs at the border through improved
  customs and standards procedures
• freer movement of people and qualifications
• higher quality regulation and governance in the region
• secure movement of people and goods
• developing APEC’s dialogue on structural reform issues
  

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