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Trade Minister Todd McClay has today welcomed entry-into-force of the New Zealand-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

“This high quality agreement, negotiated and signed by former Trade Minister Tim Groser, will bring significant commercial benefits to New Zealand exporters,” says Mr McClay.

“From today, current duty-free access to the Korean market is ‘bound in’, and existing tariffs will be eliminated on $793 million, or 48 per cent, of New Zealand exports.

Trade Minister Todd McClay welcomes agreement of the WTO Nairobi package reached at the 10th World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, and says the elimination of export subsidies is significant for New Zealand agriculture exporters.

Trade Minister Todd McClay has welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations on the expansion of the World Trade Organisation Information Technology Agreement (ITA) in Nairobi, Kenya.

“This agreement will remove tariffs from 201 products, including new-generation semi-conductors, GPS navigation systems, MRI machines, telecommunications satellites and touch screens.  

Trade Minister, Todd McClay, today issued a call for public submissions on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between New Zealand and the European Union (EU).

“New Zealand enjoys a close and long-standing relationship with the EU and last year concluded a Partnership Agreement on Relations and Cooperation.  A modern, high-quality FTA is the missing link in our important relationship,” says Mr McClay.

Todd McClay will next week attend the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. 

This will be Mr McClay’s first duty as Trade Minister, a portfolio change which takes effect on Monday.

“Key issues for trade and development will be in the spotlight at Nairobi, including in the important area of agriculture,” says Mr McClay. 

“WTO Members will be trying to agree a package of measures from the Doha Round agenda, which has been stalled since 2008.

Trade Minister Tim Groser has welcomed today’s announcement that the New Zealand-Korea Free Trade Agreement would enter into force on 20 December 2015.

“I’m very pleased to see this high quality agreement enter into force,” Mr Groser says.

“This FTA will help New Zealand exporters grow their business in the world’s thirteenth largest economy.

“Under this FTA, approximately 98 percent of tariffs on New Zealand’s current exports to Korea will be progressively eliminated.

Trade Minister Tim Groser today released new statistics showing spectacular growth in New Zealand’s exports to Chinese Taipei since the Economic Cooperation Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu (ANZTEC) entered into force in December 2013.

“New Zealand exporters are reaping the benefits of preferential tariff access to Chinese Taipei,” says Mr Groser.

Trade Minister Tim Groser has welcomed the announcement today by President Obama, under the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, as a crucial step towards signature of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

“Specifically, we are now on a 90 day count down, after which the US will be able to sign the agreement. Soon after this period expires, we expect partner countries will meet to sign the text,” says Mr Groser.

Trade Minister Tim Groser today welcomed the release of the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

On behalf of the twelve members of the TPP and in its capacity as Depositary of the Agreement, New Zealand released the text of TPP.

“New Zealand supported the release of the text as soon as the technical work to finalise the Agreement was completed. 

“I am pleased that this has happened and that the public will be able to thoroughly review the full text of the TPP well before it will be signed by governments.

Minister of Trade Tim Groser has announced that, on behalf of the twelve members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), New Zealand has released the text of the results of TPP negotiations in its capacity as Depositary of the Agreement.

The text is currently available on the international treaty depository section of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website, at www.mfat.govt.nz/tppdepositary.

Trade Minister Tim Groser today welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister Key and European Union leaders that both sides will embark on the next steps to enable negotiations on an EU-New Zealand FTA to begin as soon as possible.

“New Zealand businesses have already indicated that they would see great value in an FTA with the EU,” says Mr Groser.

“With a total GDP of more than NZ$20 trillion, and a sophisticated consumer market with high levels of R&D and investment, the EU is an attractive prospect.

Associate Trade Minister Hon Todd McClay is travelling to the Cook Islands to attend the Pacific Islands Forum Trade Ministers Meeting this week.
 
“Trade is one of the many important strands to New Zealand’s relationship with Pacific Island countries. The future of the Pacific’s regional economic development rests in finding ways to facilitate trade linkages and reducing supply side constraints,” says Mr McClay.
 

The New Zealand Government has officially opened its diplomatic Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Mission was opened by New Zealand’s Trade Minister, Tim Groser, who is visiting Indonesia this week.

“The opening of a New Zealand Mission is a significant demonstration of our commitment to the region. It comes at an important time. This year marks the 40th anniversary of New Zealand’s formal relationship with ASEAN, and also the year that ASEAN will launch the ASEAN Community,” said Mr Groser.

Trade and Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser departs today to Indonesia and Hong Kong for meetings with key ministerial counterparts.

“Indonesia is an important political, trade and economic partner for New Zealand,” says Mr Groser.

“My visit will be an opportunity to exchange views on a range of trade-related issues including regional economic developments, the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and ongoing Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiation.

Trade Minister Tim Groser welcomes the release of further information on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“These fact sheets demonstrate what a comprehensive agreement TPP is, and that the benefits of the agreement go beyond reductions in tariffs,” says Mr Groser.

The first fact sheets issued today cover the following areas:

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement will deliver significant benefits to New Zealand and build on the hard-won gains from previous free trade agreements, Trade Minister Tim Groser says.

“This comprehensive agreement offers much better access for New Zealand goods and services in 11 important markets across Asia and the Pacific.

“TPP breaks new ground for us. It is our first FTA relationship with the United States – the world’s biggest consumer market – as well as with Japan, Canada, Mexico and Peru.

Trade Minister Tim Groser today announced that New Zealand has formally accepted the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

“The TFA is designed to facilitate trade through the simplification and streamlining of customs and border processes,” said Mr Groser.

Trade Minister Tim Groser will travel to Australia and the United States important talks on international climate change and regional trade agreements.

Mr Groser will first meet Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt in Melbourne today to discuss domestic climate policies following Malcolm Turnbull’s appointment as Prime Minister and his Cabinet re-shuffle.

Trade Minister Tim Groser has welcomed the passing of the Tariff (Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the Republic of Korea) Amendment Bill in Parliament today.

“Under this FTA, approximately 98 percent of tariffs on New Zealand’s current exports to Korea will be progressively eliminated,” says Mr Groser.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Associate Trade Minister Todd McClay will today join senior business and government representatives at the second New Zealand-China Partnership Forum in Beijing.

“The New Zealand-China Partnership Forum is an important platform for deepening and strengthening the economic and political relationship between our two countries. This Forum will build on the successful inaugural Forum held in 2013, which I attended alongside Prime Minister John Key and several of my ministerial colleagues,” Mr Joyce says.

Todd McClay, Minister of Revenue and State Owned Enterprises, and Associate Minister of Trade and Foreign Affairs, departs this Sunday for a six-day visit to China, including Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong, Mr McClay will meet with the Secretary of Commerce and New Zealand exporters to discuss the opportunities for strengthening the trade and investment relationship. 

From Hong Kong, Mr McClay will travel to Beijing, where he will meet with senior Chinese leadership, including Vice-Premier Wang Yang and a counterpart in China's Ministry of Commerce.

Strengthening key market relationships and diversifying into new markets is a major theme for the update of the Export Markets workstream of the Business Growth Agenda released by Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Trade Minister Tim Groser in Auckland this morning.

The Minister of Trade Tim Groser says the signing of an open skies air services agreement with Qatar will provide improved air links between our two countries and the wider countries of the Gulf.

The Minister signed the agreement for New Zealand today during his visit to Qatar.

“Qatar is at the centre of one the world’s most dynamic regions for international air travel.  The opportunity now exists for Qatar Airways to serve New Zealand and this would be a welcome development,” says Mr Groser.

Trade Minister Tim Groser announced today that the members of the World Trade Organisation have appointed New Zealand’s WTO Ambassador, Vangelis Vitalis, as the new Chair of the WTO Doha Round agriculture negotiations.

Mr Vitalis was formally elected Chair at a meeting of the Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture held in Geneva today.