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Message from the executive director
To kick off 2018 we've got a great range of news you can use, tips, events, webinars and our first trade update of the new year - this mainly focuses on the TPP (now called CPTPP). Has there been a breakthrough or is there more to worry about?
We've got the latest news straight from Japan where officials met last week, plus other coinciding events and Trump's reaction. What can we expect now?...
MFAT is arranging a series of Hui to discuss CPTPP. The first is in Wellington on 8 February, more details here. I encourage members to look out for these events and attend.
Catherine Beard
027 463 3212 or cbeard@exportnz.org.nz
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What is it about trade agreements and TPP (now called CPTPP)? Why is final agreement often not final agreement and why do they risk unravelling?
In the case of TPP we have been here before. Agreement was reached under Obama. The Agreement was signed. New Zealand and some others ratified this Agreement. But Obama did not think he had the votes to ratify in the US so it was passed over to the next administration. The first act of the new Trump Administration was to withdraw from TPP as it was a “terrible deal”. The US wasn’t going to do plurilateral or multilateral deals anymore. Bilateralism was the future. More...
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New Zealand wine is not only selling well but going at premium prices in the UK, as much of the wine producing world faces challenging times in tough market conditions.
Wine sales worldwide appear to be slowing, but for some reason New Zealand is bucking that trend. In fact last year sales were up 15 per cent in the UK, thanks to the very popular sauvignon blanc.
Watch report from One News here...
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The Labour-New Zealand First coalition agreement includes a controversial pledge to “work towards” a free trade deal with Russia and its custom union partners. What have officials said about its prospects and how likely is a deal? Sam Sachdeva reports.
Among the more curious provisions in the coalition deal between Labour and New Zealand First was the second-last of the incoming government’s “coalition priorities”, buried on the seventh of eight pages.
Under a section titled “Other” came a commitment to “work towards a free trade agreement with the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union”.
With free trade talks with Russia and its partners put on hold since 2014, following the country’s annexation of Crimea, the push to resume talks appears to have raised eyebrows both at home and abroad.
So what is driving the push for a Russia FTA, what are the benefits and obstacles – and how likely is it to happen? More...
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An interesting opinion peice from Siah Hwee Ang (BNZ chair in business in Asia):
With the possible exceptions of China and Thailand, most Asian economies should see further economic growth in 2018.
India and the ASEAN nations are expected to pick up some of the slack left by China, and this may continue for some years to come.
India is also set to overtake the UK and France next year to become the world's fifth largest economy in dollars, according to a report by The Centre for Economics and Business Research. It is also forecast to overtake Germany in 2027.
A key priority of ASEAN in 2018 is to make sure that the region works more holistically, both economically (around the framework of the ASEAN Economic Community) and politically (for example on issues such as South China Sea disputes with China).
This hints at a move to treat ASEAN as a single market, with entry through a hub nation affording access to the other markets in the region. More...
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A Kiwi logistics company is making it easier for manufacturers to do business with China by cutting out middlemen and allowing their products to be sent directly to the buyer.
QEX Logistics was founded by husband and wife team Ronnie and Doreen Xue in their Auckland garage in 2010 when demand was heating up for the types of clean and green products New Zealand was known for.
Ronnie Xue said the service was a big breakaway from traditional export models, where all inventory needed to be sent to China and certified before it could go to market. QEX allowed manufacturers to keep their inventory in New Zealand and let the logistics company do the rest.
"Through our business channels ... we're basically cutting [out] wholesalers, distributors, and retailers in China and we are helping New Zealand manufacturers to sell to Chinese consumers directly." More...
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NZTE's Better by Design CEO Summit is back for 2018 at Auckland's Villa Maria Estate.
Hear from Facebook's Erick Tseng, Tim Brown of Allbirds, Carla Murphy of Icebreaker and other dynamic leaders as they explore how to build a truly customer-centred business – one that creates more desirable products and services, passionate customers, and a purposeful company culture.
Tickets will sell out, so book now to secure your spot at this exclusive event.
Learn more and book now->>
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This story is a good reminder to keep global IP in mind when branding your business or products.
A young Wellington couple who fell victim to "corporate bullying" in a trademark stoush with Coca Cola have been spared the $9000 cost of rebranding their business thanks to local companies and a pro-bono lawyer.
Claire Rientjes, 21, and Egemen Yeter, 25, have finally sorted a new name for their cafe and food business, previously known as Innocent Foods, after they were threatened with legal action by the drinks giant.
The couple were running their business for at least a year and opened a cafe under the name about six months ago, but were shocked recently to receive a letter informing them they were breaching a Coca-Cola trademark. More...
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Get along to MaD2018 (a Techweek'18 Curated Programme event) to learn about exciting new manufacturing and design research; to be inspired through examples of positive collaborations between industry and researchers; and to hear from high profile Keynote Speakers - including Professor Alexander Slocum from USA, Professor Olaf Diegel (pictured) from Sweden, Sistema founder Brendan Lindsay and Rocket Lab's Peter Beck.
Conference Dates: Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 May 2018
Venue: ANZ Viaduct Event Centre, 161 Halsey Street, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland.
Early Bird Registration is now open. Visit www.mad.org.nz for more conference info.
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The $5 billion-a-year honey New Zealand industry is on its way to recovery after one of its poorest seasons in decades last year.
The 2017 harvest was hit hard by cold, wet and windy weather over the optimal nectar-flow period, resulting in a sharp fall in production.
Karin Kos, chief executive of Apiculture New Zealand, said it was early days but that the fine weather over the important November and December months had seen the season get off to a strong start. "It's looking like a relatively good season, but it still has a couple of months to run," she said.
The industry has been plagued with "counterfeit" manuka honey turning up in key markets such as the UK, so the sector has taken some confidence from last year's announcement from the Ministry for Primary Industries giving a tighter definition of what constitutes manuka honey.
The Government last December announced that all exports of New Zealand manuka honey would have to be tested as authentic against a new definition set by the ministry before they can be exported. More...
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GreenBizCheck and Bureau Veritas will look into how companies will be able to clearly and seamlessly demonstrate responsible supply chains from an ethical and sustainable perspective, in a 40 minute webinar followed by a 20 minute Q&A.
This informative session on 1 February, features four highly qualified speakers and will cover the following topics:
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Ethical Procurement
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Modern Slavery Act
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ISO 20400
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Web-Based Solutions
Date and time: 1 February at 2pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time). Places are limited so please click here to secure your spot.
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There are some great opportunities for improving your business through learnings at seminars, workshops and events.
To see what's coming up, go to the ExportNZ home page and scroll down to see what's happening around the country.
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Missed an issue of The Exporter? Click here to access all previous issues in our Newsletter Archive.
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