Free trade agreement offers great opportunities        

The signing of the ASEAN-Australia-NZ Free Trade Agreement represents the opening up of enormous opportunities for New Zealand businesses, said Labour Trade spokesperson Maryan Street.

Maryan Street joined Trade Minister Tim Groser at the Bangkok ceremony held last night to mark the signing.

"Here is a market of 566 million people, with which we have an integrated free trade agreement across goods and services. This market accounts for more than US$1.4 trillion in global trade,” Maryan Street said.

"Even with the global downturn and the contraction of the ASEAN economies, the sheer volume of consumers makes this agreement an attractive and important proposition for New Zealand business interests.

"The agreement is the culmination of many years of work by the previous Labour government and Helen Clark and Phil Goff deserve recognition for that. Trade Minister Tim Groser also deserves congratulating for picking up that work and seeing it through to its conclusion with last night’s signing.

"New Zealand is fortunate in that there is a genuine bipartisan approach to the trade portfolio. I am in Bangkok to support the Minister in the culmination of these trade negotiations," said Maryan Street.

"The New Zealand-Thai Chamber of Commerce was quick to recognise the value of such a bipartisan approach and the security it provides to New Zealand business interests in the region.

"This is a hugely important step forward for New Zealand. Business interests should be looking for opportunities to maximise the benefits this agreement will bring," Maryan Street said.

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