Hon Phil Goff
Minister of Trade
09 April 2008
Website success demonstrates huge interest in New Zealand-China FTA – Goff
The new Government website containing information on New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreement with China has received a huge
amount of interest in its first 48 hours of operation, Trade Minister Phil Goff said today.
“The all-of-government ChinaFTA.govt.nz Website went live shortly after I signed the agreement alongside Commerce
Minister Chem Deming in Beijing on Monday afternoon,” Phil Goff said.
“Over the next 48 hours up to Wednesday afternoon, the Website registered around 31,000 hits. This is evidence of the
enormous interest shown by New Zealand businesses to make the most out of this historic deal.
“This level of interest ranks alongside the unanimous enthusiasm shown by 190 businessmen and women who travelled to
China to witness Monday’s signing. It is a reflection of the huge potential China offers as a market for New Zealand
goods and services. The business delegation was the largest ever to leave New Zealand and the group recognised that the
deal has clear benefits for New Zealand.
“Ngai Tahu Holdings for example has described the deal’s ‘amazing potential’ and China as a ‘land of opportunity’. The
company is a large exporter, selling more than $100 million of live lobster to China annually,” Phil Goff said.
“The Website is proving to be a very useful tool. It provides detail on the FTA, including the text of the document
itself, the National Interest Analysis, fact sheets and key outcomes for New Zealand. It also contains links to all New
Zealand Government agencies that are connected to doing business in China.
“A tariff finder tool on the site allows people to view tariff rates on 7000 different items – the current rates and the
eventual rates that will result from the FTA. This tool has been very well received.
“Since the FTA was signed, New Zealand has received big publicity across China. The signing and significance of the
agreement has made the front pages of many of the metropolitan newspapers and been broadcast on television channels
China-wide. This type of exposure will be invaluable to New Zealand businesses as they seek to capitalise on the head
start they have gained over their competitors,” Phil Goff said.
ENDS