April 2025 Introduction This submission is being made on behalf of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF), whose members are listed at...
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LAMENTATION DAY
When President Trump spoke in the White House Rose Garden to launch his wrecking-ball “fair and reciprocal tariffs”, there were some in the audience wearing hard hats. While this was doubtless to show support for the move amongst hard-working Americans, maybe...

Bull in a China Shop: Market Price Support in the Dairy Industry
Market price support policies (aka as “subsidies”) in the agriculture sector are a classic example of what is meant by 'beggar thy neighbour'. One country attempts to improve its own economic situation by intervening in the market on behalf of its producers, at the...

Playing the long trade game with India
Prime Minister Luxon is at last making his visit to India with a large business and community delegation. We wish them well in expanding and deepening the relationship with India. The reasons for doing so we have explained previously. Our Government’s...
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LAMENTATION DAY
When President Trump spoke in the White House Rose Garden to launch his wrecking-ball “fair and...

Bull in a China Shop: Market Price Support in the Dairy Industry
Market price support policies (aka as “subsidies”) in the agriculture sector are a classic example...

Playing the long trade game with India
Prime Minister Luxon is at last making his visit to India with a large business and community...

T Day has come
STOP PRESS – NOT SO FAST. This post deals with the tariffs President Trump announced on 1...

Back to the future?
The end of 2024 has trade advocates reaching back to their 2016 taking points as an Administration...

Reimagining the trans-Tasman relationship for two decades
Even the closest of relationships require advocacy. That applies equally to Australia – our...

THE NEXT BIG IDEA – THE SOUTHERN LINK
If New Zealand is serious about doubling export value in the next ten years then we need some...

TIES THAT BIND – EXPANDING CER TO ASEAN
For New Zealand to pay more attention to the economies of ASEAN (the ten-member Association of...

SPOTLIGHT ON SUBSIDIES
With much of the world turning inwards and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in a parlous state,...
SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE ON A COMPREHENSIVE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH INDIA
April 2025 Introduction This submission is being made on behalf of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF), whose members are listed at Annex A[1]. NZIBF is a group of senior business leaders working together to promote New Zealand’s engagement in the...
LAMENTATION DAY
When President Trump spoke in the White House Rose Garden to launch his wrecking-ball “fair and reciprocal tariffs”, there were some in the audience wearing hard hats. While this was doubtless to show support for the move amongst hard-working Americans, maybe...
BUSINESS FORUM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WITH UNJUSTIFIED US TARIFFS
Media release, 4 April 2025 The New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) has reacted with deep disappointment to the news that the United States will implement an additional 10 percent ad valorem tariff on New Zealand exports. “The United States is a close and...
Bull in a China Shop: Market Price Support in the Dairy Industry
Market price support policies (aka as “subsidies”) in the agriculture sector are a classic example of what is meant by 'beggar thy neighbour'. One country attempts to improve its own economic situation by intervening in the market on behalf of its producers, at the...
BUSINESS FORUM WELCOMES INDIA FTA NEGOTIATIONS
Media release, 17 March 2025 The NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) welcomes the launch of free trade negotiations with India, announced in Delhi, and is particularly pleased that these will proceed on a comprehensive basis. “There is enormous value to be gained...
Playing the long trade game with India
Prime Minister Luxon is at last making his visit to India with a large business and community delegation. We wish them well in expanding and deepening the relationship with India. The reasons for doing so we have explained previously. Our Government’s...
SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE
Submission to MFAT by NZIBF on the proposed green economy join working group with Chile and Singapore
PRESENTATION TO APEC BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL: ADDRESSING PROTECTIONISM AND NON TARIFF BARRIERS
BRISBANE, 24 FEBRUARY 2025 STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NZIBF My thanks to Anna Curzon and Stephanie Honey for giving me one last opportunity to speak to ABAC. I want to talk today about rising protectionism and proliferating non tariff barriers. It’s not a new...
Business Leaders Sound Alarm on Global Economic Uncertainty: Call for Unified APEC Action
Among rising global economic tension, the APEC Business
Advisory Council met in Brisbane this week to reaffirm its support for the value of trade and cooperation,
and the original APEC commitment to free, fair, open and rules-based trade.
REMARKS TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE COMMITTEE – 20 FEBRUARY 2025
Stephen Jacobi presented to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee in support of the NZ/UAE Closer Economic Partnership. He emphasised the need for the Government to follow through on undertakings around paperless trade.