ExportNZ’s 2023 Pre-Election Report: State of Play for New Zealand’s Export Sector

Activity over the past month has been largely devoted to ensuring full utilisation of FTAs that have been negotiated rather than negotiating new ones. The one exception is the Gulf where work continues on both the GCC and UAE opportunities. Submissions on the UAE FTA are being analysed.

Foreign Minister Peters paid an important visit to India this month. The visit appears to have gone well and to have been appreciated by the Indian side. No specific outcomes were expected, particularly on the trade front.

One of the advantages of having Trade and Foreign Ministers who have occupied the portfolios
before is that they hit the ground running. Having visited WTO Headquarters in January Hon
Todd McClay is off to Abu Dhabi for the WTO Ministerial meeting, where he will also serve as
one of three Vice Chairs of the meeting

In an election year, the business environment both at home and abroad remains tricky to navigate for New Zealand exporters and as evidence showcased in this year’s 2023 ExportNZ DHL Export Barometer report, there are several issues that cause concern for exporters.

Today, global trade is in the spotlight more than ever. The ongoing pandemic, bottleneck supply chains, new policies and the war in Ukraine have drastically altered the way businesses reach their customers and how they plan for the future. The unpredictability of the...