Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

NZ proposal to energise WTO negotiations


New Zealand proposal to energise WTO negotiations

New Zealand is to make a bold proposal at a World Trade Organisation meeting in Geneva aimed at energising the Doha Round negotiations, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today.

Mr Sutton said Cabinet had directed New Zealand ambassador to the WTO Tim Groser to propose the elimination of remaining tariffs on all non-agricultural products as part of the "industrials" negotiations in Geneva today (midnight Monday, NZ time).

"New Zealand is aiming to lift significantly the level of ambition in the industrials market access negotiations, and thus increase the chances for a big result in the Doha Round as a whole, including in agriculture."

Mr Sutton said that if the proposal succeeded, it would mean that New Zealand exporters of forestry, fish, and manufactured products would save around $185 million a year in tariffs.

Internationally, the "industrials" tariff average is about 4.7 per cent, although that figure masks some sensitive areas which have significantly higher tariff rates. Eliminating those remaining tariffs internationally would save exporters hundreds of billions of dollars.

Mr Sutton emphasized that this proposal was just a proposal.

"This is New Zealand's negotiating bid. It is part of the negotiations ongoing among the 144 members of the WTO. New Zealand is not going to do this on its own. It has to be reciprocal. Either all join in, or none."

He said that the proposal had been discussed with other government departments and interested sectors.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

"It is clear that industry wants the chance to compete on equal terms in the global market. At the moment, things are not equal."

Mr Sutton said it was appropriate for New Zealand to be putting forward such a proposal.

"New Zealand is well-known as a proponent of international agricultural trade reform. While more than 50 per cent of our exports are agricultural, it's worth highlighting that almost 50 per cent of our exports are non-agricultural. We have an important stake in how WTO negotiations in sectors other than agriculture go.

"The success of our fisheries, forestry, and manufactured products exporters is as important to me as that of our agricultural producers.

"Tariff barriers reduce the incomes of New Zealand exporters and make it harder to employ more people here."

Mr Sutton said the negotiating proposal was a separate issue to the tariff review being carried out currently.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.