It’s been a busy but tough year for trade. Read our end-of-year roundup by Executive Director Stephen Jacobi.
Welcome to Trade Works, the communications platform for the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF), and the New Zealand Chapter of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).
Here you will find information about trade and investment and why these are important for New Zealand. You can find out more about NZIBF, our members, governance and projects and what we are saying about current issues. You can also read up about the work of ABAC and its New Zealand members.
Why is trade important?
Trade is the life blood of our economy, in normal times and times of crisis. Trade, both exports and imports, gives consumers more choice and a broader range of goods and services to choose from.
Freer trade, by which we mean unhindered by unnecessary trade barriers, has helped make possible the lifestyles we have become accustomed to. It has helped diversify and deepen our economy.
But more than this, the links we develop through trade and investment with other economies support people to people connections. They give us a richer and more diverse society.
What about jobs?
Put simply, more trade means more jobs. We can’t prosper by selling to ourselves, we can’t eat all we produce and we can’t produce all we need. Over 600,000 jobs in New Zealand are dependent either directly or indirectly on trade.
How else can freer trade help us?
“Free trade” doesn’t mean completely unregulated trade. Trade needs effective rules like any other area of activity. Free Trade agreements (FTAs) set fairer rules for the easier flow of goods and services, including in areas like trade and the environment and trade and labour. They also deal with the flow of capital. Companies need capital to grow.
Export income, capital inflows through foreign direct investment and the remittance of dividends from New Zealand’s offshore investments – these are what plug the gap in domestic spending and government deficits. They create jobs, they help us pay for our hospitals, our world class education and to build better infrastructure.
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
Back to the future?
It’s been a busy but tough year for trade. Read our end-of-year roundup by Executive Director Stephen Jacobi.
Diplosphere: Tour de Force with Stephen Jacobi – Having Choice is a Key NZ Interest
In this episode of the Diplosphere podcast, Stephen discusses his extensive career in trade and diplomacy.
APEC Business Leaders Call for Bold Actions on Sustainable Growth and Economic Integration
APEC Business Leaders Call for Bold Actions on Sustainable Growth and Economic Integration
CPTPP and the art of living dangerously
Read Stephen Jacobi’s assessment of the recent CPTPP Ministerial: there’s not much shouting about CPTPP these days but more passion would be a good thing
NZIBF 2024 Chair Report
Read the NZIBF Chair’s report for 2024.
Reimagining the trans-Tasman relationship for two decades
Australia is our most important partner. This year the Australia NZ Leadership Forum celebrates 20 years. Our colleague Simon Le Quesne reflects on this milestone for the Trade Working Blog.
THE NEXT BIG IDEA – THE SOUTHERN LINK
SouthernLink is a big, bold idea we need to help double export value. It’s a concept that is gaining traction but needs more advocacy, writes Stephen Jacobi.
ADDRESS TO THE 55TH ONE STOP UPDATE FOR THE ACCOUNTANT IN BUSINESS – GLOBAL ECONOMIC UPDATE
Executive Director StephenJacobi gave a global economic update to the recent 55th One Stop Update for Accountants.
NZ/GCC FREE TRADE AGREEMENT – EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GULF
Big breakthrough for exports to the Gulf – a NZ/GCC FTA 17 years in the making.
TIES THAT BIND – EXPANDING CER TO ASEAN
Stephen Jacobi discusses expanding CER to ASEAN, based on his remarks he gave at an ASEAN NZ Business Council agri-business event, hosted by ANZ Bank.
