Trade for All Advisory Board appointed

The newly-appointed Trade for All Advisory Board had its first meeting in Wellington on 12 December. It has been set up to provide an independent report to the Government with practical, implementable recommendations on how to make trade policy work for all New Zealanders.

“The Trade for All Advisory Board has an important role to play in shaping New Zealand’s trade policy. We have a team of very talented and experienced New Zealanders who bring a wide range of perspectives,” the Chair David Pine said.

“At this early stage, our focus is very much on setting up the structures and methods that will enable us to produce our report. With such a large and diverse group, it is important we get this right first before we try to start working on the subject matter.”

The Board will report directly to the Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker with an independent view of how to make New Zealand’s trade policy work for all New Zealanders.

“We’ll be considering key issues and the views of a wide cross section of New Zealanders, sectors and groups over the coming months to inform our recommendations to the Government on the development of its Trade for All agenda.

In his remarks at the Board’s first meeting this week, David Parker said: “I want the Board to consider these important issues in depth and provide tangible initiatives on how trade can help ensure the benefits of trade are shared. We want trade policy that supports sustainable regional economic growth. We want small and medium sized businesses, women and Maori – who haven’t always benefited as much as big business from trade deals - to succeed on the global stage. At the same time we want to protect our unique environment and get the best out of our existing and future trade deals.”

The Trade for All Advisory Board members are:

David Pine (Chair), Catherine Beard, Kenneth Clark, Mai Chen, Barry Coates, Victoria Crone, Sam Huggard, Lain Jager, Malcolm Johns, Amokura Kawharu, Raf Manji, Hone McGregor, Dame Rosanne Meo, Katie Milne, Molly Harriss Olson, Josie Pagani, Caren Rangi, Gary Taylor, Simon Tucker, Craig Tuhoro, Pania Tyson-Nathan, Leeann Watson, Michael Whitehead.

Further information on the Trade for All Advisory Board, including short bios on each board member, is available at https://www.tradeforalladvisoryboard.org.nz.

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