NZIBF Executive Director Stephen Jacobi gave an address to the roundtable on CPTPP in Shanghai on 28 October.
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CER CELEBRATES A RUBY ANNIVERSARY
The Australia-New Zealand Leadership, the semi-annual gathering of Ministers and business leaders, has been described as a “successful symbol of trans-Tasman togetherness[1]”. And the togetherness vibe was certainly present when the Forum gathered in Wellington...

IN SINGAPORE, “M” STANDS FOR MULTILATERALISM
In another post from Singapore, Stephen Jacobi addresses questions of regional security. Since even before its founding in 1965, Singapore has been located strategically at the cross-roads of economic activity in the Asia Pacific region. Today, Singapore also finds...

SINGAPORE AND NEW ZEALAND – A MOST “FTA-ed” RELATIONSHIP
Stephen Jacobi continues his posts from his Singapore sojourn. Spending time in Singapore reminds me of the several visits I made in 2000-02 when I was serving as Private Secretary to Trade Minister Jim Sutton. Jim concluded the first free trade agreement with...
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WHAT’S IN A NAME?
The now widespread use of the term “Indo Pacific” to describe the region to which New Zealand...

THE NZ/EU FTA IS LIKE THE CURATE’S EGG
In which we like the good parts of the NZ EU FTA…. Who remembers the curate’s egg? It’s when the...

FROM APEC AND CPTPP TO IPEF – SMALL STEP OR GIANT LEAP?
The US idea of an Indo Pacific Framework (IPEF) continues to gain traction but is not without...

NZ/EU FTA – BLESSED BE THE CHEESEMAKERS
Will the NZ/EU FTA ever be finished, asks Stephen Jacobi. In the Monty Python film, “Life of...

GUEST POST: “Imagine if… Building a new future for Indigenous trade”
Indigenous business leaders from the APEC region contributed to the first-ever ABAC Indigenous...

Let’s try that again: Happy new year!
In another year of disruption and loss there have been some surprising wins for trade. The kindest...

A little breathing room at the WTO
A little breathing room at the WTO The emergence of Omicron has meant that the WTO Ministerial...

Five Minutes to MC12
In a fortnight’s time, Ministers from the 164 members of the World Trade Organisation will gather...

APEC 21 – BEATING COVID ONE ZOOM AT A TIME
The ABAC NZ TeamThe APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) is preparing to discuss its Annual...
INDIA AND NEW ZEALAND: GETTING ONTO THE FRONT FOOT
NZIBF is part of the largest commercial mission ever to visit India, in an effort to boost bilateral trade and investment between India and New Zealand.
ADDRESS TO THE HAWKE’S BAY BRANCH OF THE NZ INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS – “TRADE SECURITY – FINDING NEW BASKETS”
TUESDAY 15 AUGUST 2023 STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NZ INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM It’s a pleasure to be with you once again. This is an address about trade but also about baskets and eggs – in particular how many eggs and how many baskets we need to prosper...
SUBMISSION TO THE PARLIAMENTARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE COMMITTEE
Read NZIBF’s assessment of the #NZEU FTA submitted to the Select Committee: “efforts will need to be made over time in the … review of the Agreement if it is to deliver significant commercial benefits to New Zealand”.
CER CELEBRATES A RUBY ANNIVERSARY
The Australia-New Zealand Leadership celebrated 40 years of the Closer Economic Relations (CER) agreement. At a time when good FTAs are hard to come by, it is good to be reminded of the bold step that was taken back then by Australia and New Zealand and how it can be taken forward.
Asia-Pacific businesses urge APEC Leaders to act on equity, sustainability and opportunity in an increasingly challenging landscape
Meeting in Cebu, the Philippines, this week, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) stressed the need for action in an increasingly fragmented and difficult operating environment.
CRUNCH TIME FOR CPTPP
Following the Ministers’ meeting in Auckland, what is the outlook for CPTPP as the world’s most ambitious free trade agreement?
TIRED OF GEO-POLITICAL CONFLICT? TAKE A LEAF OUT OF SINGAPORE’S BOOK
Stephen Jacobi has been spending time in Singapore and finds a lot of similarities to the challenge Aotearoa faces with two big friends who are finding it difficult to get along.
IN SINGAPORE, “M” STANDS FOR MULTILATERALISM
In another post from Singapore, NZIBF Executive Director Stephen Jacobi addresses questions of regional security.
IPEF SUPPLY CHAIN AGREEMENT – A USEFUL BUT MODEST STEP – BUSINESS FORUM
Read NZIBF’s to the #IPEF Supply Chain Agreement announcement.
SINGAPORE AND NEW ZEALAND – A MOST “FTA-ed” RELATIONSHIP
Stephen Jacobi continues his posts from his Singapore sojourn.