Market accessAPECExport controlsNZ and the WTOOECDTrade AgreementsAnti CounterfeitingAseanAustraliaChinaGulf Cooperation CouncilHong KongIndiaKoreaMalaysiaSingaporeThailandTrans PacificTrade RelationshipsTrade and economic analysisTrade lawTrade scholarships
[these are all links to Beehive.govt.nz]
Negotiators for the New Zealand-China free trade agreement completed the longest round to date when they met for a full five-day stretch in Queenstown. The seventh negotiating round made further progress on identifying areas of agreement. Negotiators also narrowed down areas where the two countries have different approaches to the text of an agreement. Detailed work was also undertaken to identify and clarify market access across the areas of goods, services and investment.
The round in mid-May was the first meeting of negotiators since Premier Wen met Prime Minister Helen Clark in New Zealand. The Prime Minister and Premier agreed that both sides should be aiming to achieve "a comprehensive agreement which was high-quality, balanced and acceptable to both sides", and that such an agreement should be completed within one to two years.
Going into the Queenstown round, negotiators on both sides were very conscious of these objectives set by the leaders. But with the round being just a few weeks after the visit by Premier Wen, domestic consultations in a number of areas - particularly market access - are still underway.
Negotiators are looking to get a clear picture of the results of these consultations when they visit China for the next negotiating round, scheduled to take place in late July/early August.
Contact details
Negotiators remain committed to, and welcome, dialogue with all interested parties including business, unions, local government, Maori and NGOs in all aspects of the negotiation.
If you would like further information on any aspect of the New Zealand-China FTA, or would like to submit further information or views on the process, email asia@mfat.govt.nz
