January 26, 2021
New China FTA to benefit Maori exporters
The chair of Māori trade group Te Taumata says the upgrade of the 2008 free trade agreement with China will create opportunities for Māori exporters and businesses.
Chris Karamea Insley says it’s impressive how officials were able to conclude the agreement despite working in a pandemic.
He says China is New Zealand’s biggest single trading partner, and along with other Asian countries, it looks likely to emerge from the COVID crisis early.
Upgraded provisions include an enhanced focus on the environment and sustainable economic growth, commitments to eliminate tariffs on New Zealand wood and paper exports to China, and streamlined clearance for perishable goods like seafood.
Recognising the reality of trade in a locked-down world, there is also more scope for trading electronically.
"Historic processes have been very manual. It's very time consuming, so there is a move in this agreement to streamline that too and make it faster and cheaper," he says.
Mr Insley says the agreement preserves the FTA’s existing safeguards to ensure there are no adverse effects on Māori interests including te reo Māori, traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, mātauranga Māori, indigenous flora and fauna and taonga species.
Copyright © 2021, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com