The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), meeting this week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, expressed deep concerns about the growing pressures of economic fragmentation and the risks that this poses to growth, inclusion and the climate fight.
Trade Working Blog
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Wanted! New FTA Partners
New research commissioned by the NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) identifies options for New Zealand’s next tranche of trade negotiations. Trade is the country’s lifeblood and trade has boosted the economy during the pandemic. Getting products to market...
GUEST POST: Acting Digitally for Regional Impact
Rachel Taulelei and Trade Minister Damien O’Connor Rachel Taulelei is CEO of Kono and Chair of ABAC for 2021. Here she comments on progress in ABAC this year. APEC Trade Ministers have just met and have issued a statement, committing to reduce barriers for trade in...
No BAU at the WTO
The World Trade Organisation has unanimously selected Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its new Director-General, after months of uncertainty following a veto from the now-departed Trump Administration. The appointment of Dr Okonjo-Iweala, as the first woman and first...
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China’s Dream – Trade War and Peace
Over 3000 international companies from 150 nations including 90 New Zealand exporters are...
Trade agreements: good things come in threes
This has been a hectic but productive week for New Zealand trade policy, with Parliamentary...
Last train to RCEP?
The huge RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership)* trade deal is one way that New...
The Law of Intended Consequences
Not content with threatening to impose tariffs on all of China’s exports to the United States, the...
Saving the World (Trade Organisation)
The World Trade Organisation system has underpinned seventy years of global prosperity and has...
New friends from an old continent
There is a certain irony in New Zealand’s current free trade negotiations with the European Union...
“The greatest FTA ever negotiated”
If you know your French history, in 1789, Louis XVI, asked his courtiers “Is this a revolt” and...
Welcome to the Kiwi Act!
Some positive news from the United States: we are delighted to report that President Trump last...
And now for something completely different (?) – enter RCEP
Some people may not have heard about the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) but...
NZ/EU FTA – BLESSED BE THE CHEESEMAKERS
FTAs should lead to more trade, not less. Cheesemakers can still be blessed but let them keep selling their cheese.
BUSINESS FORUM APPLAUDS “HISTORIC” NZ UK FTA
The conclusion of the NZ UK Free Trade Agreement is a historic moment for NZ’s trade, says the NZ International Business Forum.
ABAC I Media Release
Embracing challenges, engaging collectively and enabling opportunities are key to Asia-Pacific
success, say business leaders.
GUEST POST: “Imagine if… Building a new future for Indigenous trade”
Carrie Stoddart-Smith imagines the wealth and well being Indigenous peoples could bring to international trade, if the opportunity is seized.
NZIBF 2021 Chair Report
We look forward to continuing to maximise opportunities for nurturing and growing New Zealand business’ integration in global markets.
Let’s try that again: Happy new year!
We end the year with a high degree of uncertainty about the new variant and with supply chains continuing to feel the impact of high shipping costs and logistical challenges.
A little breathing room at the WTO
The emergence of Omicron has meant that the WTO Ministerial Conference has been put on hold – leaving in limbo key decisions about pandemic trade responses and fish subsidies (not to mention agriculture). But there is some good news: members have finalised a deal to cut red tape for services exporters, and launched a new platform to help small businesses.
An Open Letter to Trade Minister O’Connor
We write this open letter to express the strong support of the New Zealand business community for ambitious outcomes at the Twelfth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (“MC12”).
Remarks by ABAC Executive Director Stephen Jacobi to Pacific Basin Economic Council, 22 November 2021
Read the remarks by ABAC Executive Director Stephen Jacobi to the Pacific Basin Economic Council on 22 November 2021
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
