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The New Zealand Council of Trade
Unions

Hong Kong/New Zealand Negotiations on a Closer Economic Partnership Agreement

Competition Policy

Services

Proposal

Hon Jim Sutton
Minister for Trade Negotiations

23 July 2001

Media Statement

Public submissions have made a valuable contribution to helping the Government identify key issues surrounding the proposed closer economic partnership (CEP) with Hong Kong, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today.

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for the invitation to speak at this sector group meeting.

The director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, Jacques Diouf, would visit New Zealand for two days next week, Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton said today.

The Government has yet to consider in detail the Australian Senate's review of how Biosecurity Australia handled a New Zealand Government request to import apples into Australia, Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton said today.

Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton today welcomed Indonesia's decision to lift immediately long-standing restrictions on New Zealand kiwifruit and other fresh fruit imports.

The dispute between apple marketer ENZA and growers should be resolved within the next two weeks, Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton said today.

A World Trade Organisation panel has ruled in New Zealand's favour again, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton confirmed today.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's call for closer trading relations between New Zealand and the United States was a welcome one, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today. Mr Sutton met Mr Mulroney this morning in Wellington.

Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton confirmed that he had received advice from the Crown Law Office about the past losses of ENZA today. "The Crown Law opinion reinforces other opinions Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officials have seen.

New Zealand's next High Commissioner to Tonga would be career diplomat Warwick Hawker, Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Jim Sutton said today.

The public awareness campaign about the risks of foot and mouth disease is winding up, but the risk of that or many other pests and diseases wreaking havoc in New Zealand is still with us, Biosecurity Minister Jim Suttonsays.

It was too early to call a ministerial inquiry into the circumstances of ENZA's past losses, Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton said today. Mr Sutton said there were already several processes underway, which should be allowed to be completed first.

An Opotiki Development Board project, funded by the Sustainable Farming Fund, is to go nation-wide, Rural Affairs Minister Jim Sutton said today.

New Zealand's next High Commissioner to Solomon Islands would be career diplomat Heather Riddell, Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Jim Sutton said today.

It appeared that ENZA has been unable to obtain grower support for a levy to recover past losses, Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton said today.

Chairman and members of the India/New Zealand Business Council, It gives me great leasure to address you, members of the India/ New Zealand Business Council, this evening.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

It was too early to know how proposed safeguard action by the United States against steel product imports would affect New Zealand, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today.