9. JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) Link to this
to the Minister of Trade
What announcements have recently been made on improving New Zealand’s trade opportunities?
Hon TIM GROSER (Minister of Trade) Link to this
I recently announced that we have resumed trade negotiations with Hong Kong, and those negotiations are, in fact, taking place right now. Those negotiations, along with the recently signed free-trade agreement with the Association of South-east Asian Nations, are a means to insure ourselves against the growth of protectionism in certain markets, and also, clearly, to create new business opportunities that will give New Zealand exporters a competitive advantage.
The Hong Kong market is a significant market for New Zealand. It is one of our top 20 export markets. It is our fourth-largest source of foreign investment. It is also an important conduit for trade with China, and has been for many years. An agreement would align, if you like, the customs territory of Hong Kong with that of China, though I hope we will be able to go rather further than that in the negotiations, particularly in respect of services.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
How does the Minister propose to mitigate the negative effects his Government’s backward position on climate change is having on our relationships with trading partners, particularly in the European Union, which has placed a very high priority on tackling climate change, and in the United States, where legislation before Congress would authorise trade retaliation against nations refusing to price carbon?
I think the member is getting rather ahead of the facts here. Not a single Minister or official that I am aware of has raised that possibility with either me or any senior New Zealand officials. The member is simply speculating on what might happen in the future. I will again be meeting with Mariann Fischer Boel, the European Union Agriculture Commissioner, in Austria next week. I would be astonished if she raises that with me. I will also be going to Washington, DC to meet with the new US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, and I would be simply flabbergasted should he raise that issue with me. I think the member needs to obtain a rather clearer understanding of the facts.