2 MAY 2025 STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IMPACT OF TRADE WARS ON NZ My thanks to Local Government NZ for the invitation to be with you today....
APEC – ‘A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF COMMUNITY’ – BUSINESS FORUM

In a year of unprecedented challenge, New Zealand’s leadership in APEC and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) has helped the region to weather the storm of the pandemic and secure a better foundation for the future, says the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF).
“2021 has been a very tough year for international trade,” said NZIBF Chair Philip Gregan. “Supply chains, markets and growth continue to be disrupted by COVID, and many businesses in New Zealand and around the region have struggled.
“A bright spot has been the leadership that New Zealand has demonstrated in its chairing of APEC this year. We express our thanks to the Prime Minister, Minister for Trade and Export Growth and their colleagues, very ably supported by officials led by Vangelis Vitalis and Mark Talbot”.
Mr Gregan says that APEC’s collaborative approach to shared challenges has contributed to the resilience of the Asia Pacific region.
“APEC Leaders issued a strong statement on 12 November which includes some very practical commitments designed to keep trade flowing, markets open and ensure that opportunities are accessible to all, in the region and around the world. The Aotearoa Plan of Action provides some concrete and verifiable processes to implement APEC’s Putrajaya Vision by 2040”.
Mr Gregan said that NZIBF particularly welcomed APEC’s strong support for the World Trade Organisation (WTO), ongoing commitment to the concept of the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP) as well as new undertakings on digitalising border processes, led by New Zealand Customs.
“New Zealand exporters depend on openness, the rule of trade law and the ability to do business efficiently around the world. Giving exporters the choice to submit trade documents electronically has helped them overcome pandemic disruptions in many of our markets. New Zealand was successful in encouraging APEC economies to lock in those digital processes. Paperless trading can save time, money and hassle for businesses across the region – now and into the future. This is a great outcome for New Zealand exporters” Mr Gregan added.
NZIBF has played a role in APEC this year by providing advice and support to the New Zealand Members of ABAC.
“We were very proud to support New Zealand’s chairing of ABAC this year. ABAC Chair Rachel Taulelei, strongly supported by our Executive Director Stephen Jacobi and his team, showed exemplary leadership. The year’s work culminated in an outstanding Report to Leaders calling for ambitious outcomes on regional economic integration, sustainability, the digital economy and greater inclusion for smaller businesses, women and Indigenous people.
“New Zealand businesses are used to adversity, but this has been a truly testing year. It has never been more important to continue to champion open markets, reject protectionism and actively support sustainability and inclusion. We will continue to work closely with APEC, ABAC and our partners around the region to build a more seamless, resilient and inclusive Asia Pacific community,” Mr Gregan concluded.
For a copy of the ABAC Report: https://www.tradeworks.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/ABAC-Report-2021-Final.pdf.
The APEC Leaders’ Declaration can be found at https://www.apec.org/meeting-papers/leaders-declarations/2021/2021-leaders-declaration.
REGISTER WITH TRADE WORKS
Register to stay up to date with latest news, as well as saving and discussing articles you’re interested in.
Latest News
REMARKS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT NZ RURAL AND PROVINCIAL SECTOR MEETING
2 MAY 2025 STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IMPACT OF TRADE WARS ON NZ My thanks to Local Government NZ for the invitation to be with you today. As a resident of Napier I am all the more pleased to contribute to this rural and provincial sector meeting. Whether you...
SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE ON A COMPREHENSIVE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH INDIA
April 2025 Introduction This submission is being made on behalf of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF), whose members are listed at Annex A[1]. NZIBF is a group of senior business leaders working together to promote New Zealand’s engagement in the...
LAMENTATION DAY
When President Trump spoke in the White House Rose Garden to launch his wrecking-ball “fair and reciprocal tariffs”, there were some in the audience wearing hard hats. While this was doubtless to show support for the move amongst hard-working Americans, maybe...
BUSINESS FORUM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WITH UNJUSTIFIED US TARIFFS
Media release, 4 April 2025 The New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) has reacted with deep disappointment to the news that the United States will implement an additional 10 percent ad valorem tariff on New Zealand exports. “The United States is a close and...
Bull in a China Shop: Market Price Support in the Dairy Industry
Market price support policies (aka as “subsidies”) in the agriculture sector are a classic example of what is meant by 'beggar thy neighbour'. One country attempts to improve its own economic situation by intervening in the market on behalf of its producers, at the...
BUSINESS FORUM WELCOMES INDIA FTA NEGOTIATIONS
Media release, 17 March 2025 The NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) welcomes the launch of free trade negotiations with India, announced in Delhi, and is particularly pleased that these will proceed on a comprehensive basis. “There is enormous value to be gained...
Playing the long trade game with India
Prime Minister Luxon is at last making his visit to India with a large business and community delegation. We wish them well in expanding and deepening the relationship with India. The reasons for doing so we have explained previously. Our Government’s...
SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE
PROPOSED GREEN ECONOMY JOINT WORKING GROUP WITH CHILE AND SINGAPORE MARCH 2025 Introduction This submission is made on behalf of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF), whose members are listed at Annex A[1]. NZIBF is a forum of senior business leaders...
PRESENTATION TO APEC BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL: ADDRESSING PROTECTIONISM AND NON TARIFF BARRIERS
BRISBANE, 24 FEBRUARY 2025 STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NZIBF My thanks to Anna Curzon and Stephanie Honey for giving me one last opportunity to speak to ABAC. I want to talk today about rising protectionism and proliferating non tariff barriers. It’s not a new...
Business Leaders Sound Alarm on Global Economic Uncertainty: Call for Unified APEC Action
Brisbane, Australia, 25 February 2025 - Among rising global economic tension, the APEC Business Advisory Council met in Brisbane this week to reaffirm its support for the value of trade and cooperation, and the original APEC commitment to free, fair, open and...
REMARKS TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE COMMITTEE – 20 FEBRUARY 2025
RATIFICATION OF NEW ZEALAND-UAE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (CEPA) STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NZIBF Thank you Chair for the opportunity to appear before the Committee today. I do so on behalf of the members of the NZ International Business...
Submission by ExportNZ and TradeWorks to the Health Select Committee on the Gene Technology Bill
17th February 2025 Our Recommendations ExportNZ and the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) support the Government’s overall intention to modernise New Zealand’s gene technology regulations. We support the establishment of a risk-based regulatory regime...
SUBMISSION TO THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE SELECT COMMITTEE
RATIFICATION OF NEW ZEALAND-UAE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (CEPA) FEBRUARY 2025 This submission is made on behalf of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) and ExportNZ[1]. NZIBF is a forum of senior business leaders working together...
SOUTHERN LINK REVISITED SEMINAR, SEPT 2024
On 24 September 2024 a stakeholders seminar was held in Auckland to reassess the Southern Link concept, five years after a large conference kickstarted focused discussion of the idea (before Covid intervened). This report of the seminar discussions...
T Day has come
STOP PRESS – NOT SO FAST. This post deals with the tariffs President Trump announced on 1 February he would impose on Canada, Mexico and China. By 4 February he announced imposition of tariffs on Canada and Mexico would be suspended for 30 days (until 5 March). ...
0 Comments