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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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Trade Minister Tim Groser and Primary Industries Nathan Guy say that officials are working closely with Russian authorities to provide the reassurance they need over New Zealand dairy products.

“Russia has formally notified New Zealand of a temporary restriction of dairy imports from 61 of the 83 dairy plants approved for export to Russia,” says Mr Groser.

Trade Minister Tim Groser and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy have underlined the continued efforts of the New Zealand Government to deal with the market effects of the possible contamination of some Fonterra dairy exports.

“The safety of consumers, especially children, both in New Zealand and in our trading partners remains our number one priority,” says Mr Groser.

Mr Groser says the New Zealand Government is taking a very precautionary approach.  

Trade Minister Tim Groser has today confirmed New Zealand is working closely with our trading partners to keep them informed of the potential contamination of some products, including follow-on infant formula, made from whey protein concentrate contaminated with the bacteria that causes botulism.

“As soon as New Zealand authorities were notified of this risk, we immediately acted to inform relevant authorities around the world,” says Mr Groser.

Trade Minister Tim Groser welcomed today the signature by the directors of the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office, and the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office, of an Economic Cooperation Agreement.

The Agreement between New Zealand and the separate Customs Territory of Taipei, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC) will further cement the strong cooperation on economic and trade matters between the two economies.

Minister of Trade and for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser will depart tomorrow for Washington to meet his new US counterpart, United States Trade Representative, Mike Froman.

In Washington Mr Groser will also hold discussions with key stakeholders in the Trans-Pacific Partnership including Members of Congress and industry.

I returned recently from representing New Zealand at the Summit of the ‘Pacific Alliance’ in Colombia. We are now an official observer of the Pacific Alliance – along with Australia, Canada (Stephen Harper, the Canadian Prime Minister, was also present in Colombia) and a handful of other countries.

Trade Minister Tim Groser and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy today announced the appointment of Mike Petersen to the position of New Zealand Special Agriculture Trade Envoy (SATE).

The role is to advocate for New Zealand’s agriculture trade interests, from the perspective of a practising farmer.

“In the immediate term, Petersen’s priority will be to coordinate support among international farmer groups for a comprehensive outcome on agriculture in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations,” says Mr Groser.

Trade Minister Tim Groser has announced that the third CER-ASEAN Integration Partnership Forum will take place in Cairns, Australia, on 18 June.

The annual Integration Partnership Forum is aimed at sharing the lessons from the Closer Economic Relations Agreement (CER) between New Zealand and Australia with the wider ASEAN membership.

This arresting phrase – ‘Agriculture: New Zealand’s Silicon Valley’ – is not mine. It is Sir Graeme Harrison’s and I can’t improve on it. Sir Graeme, you will recall, is the founder and Chairman of ANZCO Foods, one of New Zealand’s largest exporters.

I like the phrase for three complementary reasons:

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Trade Minister Tim Groser today announced the appointment of Jennifer Kerr to the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Board.

Ms Kerr has been appointed for a three-year term from June 2013.

Ms Kerr was formerly Group Director Human Resources at Fonterra and has worked in human resources in the oil industry in the United States and Europe and the leisure industry in the United Kingdom.

Je souhaiterais tout d’abord vous remercier vivement pour l’opportunité de m’adresser à vous. En guise d’introduction, je dirais que nous nous trouvons à un tournant particulièrement intéressant dans l’évolution du système commercial international. Littéralement parlant, il n’y a rien que nous puissions décrire comme neuf dans le système actuel.