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Trade Minister Tim Groser will visit Washington DC this week to deliver a keynote address on food security and meet with his American counterparts.

Mr Groser’s address will focus on food security and trade policy at a conference convened by the Inter-American Development Bank and the International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council.

I would like to begin by thanking the President of Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders, Willie van Heusden, for inviting me to speak at your annual conference. I’m delighted to be here and to be able to speak to a theme of considerable personal and professional interest to me – namely whether or not Intra-Asia is our trading future.

Trade Minister Tim Groser will attend a meeting of G20 Trade Ministers in Mexico this week. This will be the first time New Zealand has participated in a ministerial level meeting of the G20. 

Mr Groser said he looked forward to engaging with Ministers of major economies on the international trade agenda. 

“It is significant that New Zealand has been invited to participate in this important group and demonstrates the regard in which this country is held in international trade and economic fora,” Mr Groser said.

Trade Minister Tim Groser continues his travel from China to Malaysia today to support a business delegation and to discuss trade issues with his Malaysian counterpart.

Mr Groser will meet the Malaysian Minister for International Trade and Industry, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, to discuss the next phase of Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations and other initiatives to strengthen trade ties.

Trade Minister Tim Groser departs for China today to help businesses open doors as part of the Government’s China Strategy. Mr Groser will travel to Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing.

First of all, on behalf of my three other Parliamentary colleagues who are with us today – the Hon Jonathan Coleman, and two new MPs, Dr Jian Yang and Maggie Barry, MP for the North Shore - I would like to acknowledge the North Harbour Club and the fantastic work you have done over many years promoting excellence amongst young people.

Trade Minister Tim Groser is pleased to announce the appointment of Vangelis Vitalis as New Zealand’s new Lead Negotiator for the FTA with the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Vangelis Vitalis is currently New Zealand’s Ambassador to the European Union in Brussels – a role which he will continue to undertake in addition to his new responsibilities. He has an extensive trade background. Vitalis concluded the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA as well as the New Zealand-Malaysia FTA.

Trade Minister Tim Groser will today depart for Switzerland, to attend the 2012 World Economic Forum (WEF) which will be held in Davos from 25-29 January.

The theme of this year’s conference is ‘The Great Transformation: Shaping New Models’. The programme will focus on issues arising from the rebalancing of the global economy.

Mr Groser will also participate in the Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders.

Trade Minister Tim Groser is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr David Walker as New Zealand’s new Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Lead Negotiator.

Mr President

Thank you for the opportunity to address Trade Ministers at this 8th Ministerial Conference of the WTO. I would like to welcome the four new WTO members, Montenegro, the Russian Federation, Samoa, and Vanuatu.

With respect to the Doha Round, we need to face the facts; wishful thinking will serve no one’s interests.

Trade Minister Tim Groser has led a call at the WTO’s 8th Ministerial Conference in Geneva for urgent action to protect global fish stocks. New Zealand is coordinating a group of countries that includes Argentina, Australia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, Peru and the United States.