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Trade Minister Tim Groser and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy are leading an agribusiness delegation to Chile and Colombia from 23-28 March.

“Latin America is a valued trading partner for New Zealand and a fast growing region,” says Mr Groser. 

“Our relationship with Chile is thriving with a high level of engagement in areas such as energy and environment, agriculture and education. They are encouraging New Zealand business to explore future investment opportunities and we hope to build on this.

Distinguished Guests

Associate Minister for Primary Industries Jo Goodhew and Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser have today announced changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) which will allow for greater transparency.

“From April buyers and sellers of carbon units will be able to see where the unit has come from, so they know how the unit was generated,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Trade Minister Tim Groser will depart today for Singapore to join Ministers from countries participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) for the next round of negotiations.

“The momentum of negotiations is accelerating, evidenced by the work completed by Ministers last December in identifying potential landing zones for the majority of key outstanding issues in the negotiations,” says Mr Groser.

Ladies and Gentlemen

I would first of all like to thank the NZ/China Council for providing this forum for business leaders here in Auckland for the APEC Business Advisory Council meetings. To our foreign guests, especially those who are making their first visit to New Zealand let me extend the warmest of welcomes.

In terms of the climate - both literal and economic - you have come to New Zealand at the right time. We hope you will do more than talk about the APEC Business Advisory Agenda and actually do some business here. This is a country very much open for business.

Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser has welcomed the publishing of New Zealand’s Sixth National Communication on Climate Change and the associated First Biennial Report.

Trade Minister Tim Groser today welcomed the significant progress made during the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Ministerial meetings in Singapore over the last four days. 

Trade Minister Tim Groser welcomes the conclusion of the WTO Bali package reached at the 9th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia.

Speaking at the end of the four day biennial conference Mr Groser says, “It’s a modest deal but one well worth having at this time.”

“Although the Bali outcomes provided limited direct benefits for New Zealand, the cost of failure at Bali would have been very significant for the international trading system,” says Mr Groser.

Trade Minister Tim Groser has led a call at the WTO’s 9th Ministerial Conference in Bali for urgent action to protect global fish stocks. New Zealand has been coordinating a group of countries that includes Argentina, Australia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Iceland, Norway, Pakistan, Peru and the United States.

Trade Minister Tim Groser welcomed Korea’s decision to resume formal negotiations toward a free trade agreement, following a meeting today in Bali with his Korean counterpart, Minister of Trade Yoon Sang-jick.

“The resumption of negotiations was discussed by Prime Minister John Key and Korean President Park Geun-hye during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Korea in July. I am pleased that their shared determination to conclude a free trade agreement has led to this point,” Mr Groser says.

Trade Minister Tim Groser will depart today for Bali Indonesia to attend the 9th World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference running from 3-6 December.

At the Conference Mr Groser will give his support to final efforts to achieve a package of new trade measures. “The continuing importance of the World Trade Organisation and its negotiating agenda to New Zealand should not be underestimated,” Mr Groser says.

Mr President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would first like to acknowledge the Government and the people of Poland, and thank them for generously hosting our discussions over these two weeks.

Amidst all the complexities of the scientific and political debate about the right way to meet the challenge from anthropogenic greenhouse warming, certain rather large realities impose themselves on that debate:

Trade Minister Tim Groser welcomed today’s announcement that the Economic Cooperation Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu (Chinese Taipei) would enter into force on 1 December 2013.

Over four years, the Agreement between New Zealand and the separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC) delivers complete removal of tariffs on 99 percent of New Zealand’s current exports to Chinese Taipei, and 100 percent within 12 years.

Minister for Climate Change Tim Groser departs for Warsaw tomorrow to participate in the annual Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Mr Groser will co-chair the ministerial dialogue on the Durban Platform, working on the shape of the international agreement post-2020.

Trade Minister Tim Groser will host H.E Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri the Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for economic and trade talks in Wellington today.

“The UAE is one of our most important partners in the Gulf region,” says Mr Groser. “I welcome this opportunity to discuss how we can grow our cooperation in areas including investment, tourism, education, innovation, renewable energy, and aviation.

“The UAE represents the primary entry point into the Middle East region for New Zealand, both in terms of people and goods.

First, I would like to congratulate the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, NZ Inc and all the agencies and sponsors for putting this event together.

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser welcomes the release of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) Climate Change 2013 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  

The report on climate science, released in Stockholm on Friday, is the first of three volumes making up the AR5.

“The IPCC’s assessment reports are comprehensive and authoritative. They are written and peer reviewed by the world’s leading climate specialists, and are the best scientific assessments of climate issues available,” says Mr Groser.

Thank you for another opportunity to speak to the National Press Club of Japan.

When I spoke here in April I noted with regret that the WTO negotiating agenda had stalled as the regional trade agenda moved with extraordinary speed.

If anything that was an understatement. To underline the point, let me use my own country’s active trade agenda as an example.

Trade Minister Tim Groser will depart for Japan tomorrow before going on to the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Indonesia.

In Tokyo Mr Groser will be speaking at the 4th Japan/New Zealand Partnership Forum, which is being hosted by the New Zealand International Business Forum, and meeting Japanese ministers responsible for trade issues.

“Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations presents very significant opportunities for both countries.

Trade Minister Tim Groser and Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy today outlined an initial plan to reassert New Zealand’s reputation in key markets following the reported potential contamination of Fonterra-produced whey protein concentrate.

“Minister Guy and I have been in close contact with the affected primary sector business throughout the past weeks. We all agree that a coordinated, all of Government response is needed,” says Mr Groser.

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser today welcomed top-level international climate change negotiators who are gathered in Auckland this week for the second New Zealand-hosted informal dialogue on the new United Nations climate change agreement. 

New Zealand has taken this initiative, using a different meeting format and approach, to inject some fresh thinking into this crucial negotiation.

In the past few weeks, I have been part of a team focused overwhelmingly on the short-term management of the risks arising from a possible breach in our proud food safety record. It has been an extraordinary whole of Government response, involving many Ministers from the Prime Minister down, multiple agencies and working closely with a number of commercial players.

Trade Minister Tim Groser will depart tomorrow for Brunei to participate in series of regional trade meetings.

Mr Groser will attend the first Ministerial Meeting for the newly launched Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) FTA negotiations, an ASEAN Economic Ministers meeting, which will focus on the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), as well as attending an East Asia Summit Economic Ministers Meeting, and holding discussions on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser has announced New Zealand has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to five per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.

“Our 2020 target is more ambitious than our Kyoto Protocol first commitment period target, compares favourably with our traditional partners’ actions and reflects New Zealand’s unique national circumstances,” says Mr Groser.