Agricultural subsidies by OECD members and major emerging economies have reached the level of USD 851 billion a year. They are not only financially wasteful, they are distorting global trade and impacting negatively on the environment. Some new research casts light on this perennial problem for NZ dairy trade. We need some creative thinking to level the playing field. NZIBF Executive Director Stephen Jacobi writes a blog for TradeWorks.
New Zealand business at Apec Vladivostok
![media-release](https://www.tradeworks.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Media-Release.png)
A delegation of New Zealand business representatives will participate in the APEC CEO Summit and related meetings in Vladivostok, Russia, during the week of 3 September, the NZ International Business Forum said today.
“The Vladivostok meeting takes place as Russia takes up its long-awaited and welcome entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and as further progress is made to build the foundations for future growth in the Asia-Pacific region,” said NZIBF Executive Director Stephen Jacobi.
“New Zealand has a major stake in the future economic success of the APEC region which takes over 70 percent of our exports. Negotiations now underway amongst eleven APEC economies to complete the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) are aimed at eliminating trade barriers, reducing the cost and complexity of doing business and providing a pathway to a future Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP). New Zealand is also negotiating a free trade agreement with the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.”
The fourth and final meeting this year of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) will take place in Vladivostok 3-6 September and will be attended by New Zealand’s three ABAC members Tony Nowell, Maxine Simmons and Wayne Boyd together with Alternate Member Stephen Jacobi and Lead Staffer Fiona Cooper Clarke. ABAC members will present their views and recommendations directly to APEC Economic Leaders, including Prime Minister John Key, on 8 September.
“For New Zealand the key issues for APEC this year are advancing the growth and jobs agenda, liberalizing and facilitating trade and investment, promoting the earliest possible conclusion to TPP, enhancing food security through a newly established high level dialogue on food issues and addressing issues of particular relevance to small and medium size business,” said Mr Jacobi.
The ABAC team will be joined at the APEC CEO Summit 7-8 September by several New Zealand CEOs. The Summit is an annual gathering of CEOs from throughout the region. This year’s Summit under the theme “Addressing Challenges. Expanding Possibilities” will explore how business can contribute to future prosperity in the region through trade liberalisation, safe food and water supply, infrastructure development, the fostering of innovation and new transportation routes.
REGISTER WITH TRADE WORKS
Register to stay up to date with latest news, as well as saving and discussing articles you’re interested in.
Latest News
SPOTLIGHT ON SUBSIDIES
With much of the world turning inwards and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in a parlous state, it could be tempting to relax New Zealand’s long-term struggle to rid the world of trade-distorting, environmentally harmful and financially wasteful subsidies. Not...
Address to NZ Apples and Pears Inc Conference, 30 July
GEO-POLITICAL, TRADE AND CONSUMER UPDATE Stephen Jacobi, Executive Director, NZ International Business Forum Introduction Thanks to the team at NZ Apples and Pears for the invitation to be with you today. I’m here to talk about the bigger picture against which your...
NON TARIFF BARRIERS – “YOU ARE NOT ALONE”
Non- tariff barriers (NTBS) have a pernicious effect on trade. Sometimes it seems that just as tariffs go down, an NTB springs up! They can be hard to identify and even harder to address. The red meat industry, New Zealand’s second largest export...
INTERNATIONAL TREATY EXAMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT ON THE INDO-PACIFIC ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR PROSPERITY
SUBMISSION TO THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE SELECT COMMITTEE - JULY 2024 Introduction This submission is made on behalf of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) and ExportNZ. NZIBF, whose members are listed at Annex A,[1] is a forum of...
Sourcing from the world’s factory – new research report into imports from China
There are very few strategic risks to New Zealand from our current levels of exposure to imports from China, concludes a new report from the New Zealand China Council, co-sponsored by NZIBF. Even if we were to diversify our sources, China is now so...
ADDRESS TO THE 54TH ONE STOP UPDATE FOR THE ACCOUNTANT IN BUSINESS – GLOBAL ECONOMIC UPDATE
AUCKLAND, WELLINGTON, CHRISTCHURCH, MAY 2024 STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - NZ INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM Introduction Thanks once again to Brightstar for the opportunity to address you today. I’m sorry I can’t be with you in person as I am travelling...
APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Joint Statement 2024
2024 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Joint Statement Arequipa, Peru | 18 May 2024 We, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT), met in Arequipa, Peru on 17-18 May 2024, chaired by Peru’s Minister of Foreign Trade and...
Business Forum welcomes UAE FTA negotiations
Media release, 7 May 2024 The NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) welcomes the start of formal negotiations on the New Zealand/UAE Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and looks forward to steady progress that will lead to the securing of a comprehensive...
Doubling our exports with zeroes…and ones!
The development of written language in the ancient world didn’t start with great poetry or literary epics. The catalyst for writing was the need to record the transfer of the ownership of goods from one person to another. Scribes did this by marking tablets of clay...
Asia-Pacific business leaders rally for robust global trade amidst rising protectionism
APEC NEWS RELEASE Issued by The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) - April 2024 This week in Hong Kong, China, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) voiced serious concerns regarding the global shift towards protectionism and regional fragmentation, risking...
SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE – APRIL 2024
NEW ZEALAND-UAE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS This submission is made on behalf of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF), whose members are listed at Annex A[1]. NZIBF is a forum of senior business leaders working together...
NEW TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND LEADERSHIP FORUM
Media release, 2 April 2024 The New Zealand Co-Chair of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF), Greg Lowe, welcomes the appointment of Stephen Jacobi and Simon Le Quesne to the New Zealand arm of the ANZLF Secretariat. The ANZLF brings business leaders,...
NZ/EU FTA A BONUS FOR SOME SECTORS – BUSINESS FORUM
Media release, 22 March 2024 The NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) acknowledges the passage of the implementing legislation for the New Zealand/European Union Free Trade Agreement and looks forward to the FTA’s entry into force on 1 May. “This agreement was...
“MEAGRE OUTCOME” FROM WTO IN ABU DHABI – BUSINESS FORUM
Media release, 2 March 2024 Despite its overwhelming importance at the heart of the international trade system, members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have concluded their Ministerial in Abu Dhabi (“MC13”) with only a meagre outcome. NZ International Business...
To go or woe with the WTO?
We’ve been here before with the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The global trade body’s 13th Ministerial meeting (“MC13”) opens in Abu Dhabi on Monday 26 February, with Trade Minister McClay serving as Vice-Chair. In recent weeks diplomats, trade...