Tag: Damien O’Connor

New Zealand Announces 35 Percent Tariff on All Russian Imports

New Zealand (NZ) has announced it would be applying a 35 percent tariff to all imports from Russia, including oil, fertiliser, and vodka, the most significant economic response to the Russian invasion to date. “The images and reports emerging of atrocities committed against civilians in Bucha and other regions of Ukraine is abhorrent and reprehensible,…


New Zealand-China Free Trade ‘Upgrade’ to Come Into Force April: Trade Minister

New Zealand’s (NZ) trade minister met last week with his Chinese counterpart to finalise details around an “upgrade” to its free trade agreement (FTA), which will come into effect on April 7. NZ’s Damien O’Connor said it was a “significant step” for the FTA, which was signed originally in 2008—the first FTA between Beijing and…


New Zealand to Back Australia’s WTO Barley Dispute with China

New Zealand’s Trade Minister Damien O’Connor has indicated the Ardern government will join Australia’s dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against China. The backing from New Zealand (NZ) came on the eve of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s visit to the country for high-level talks on a range of issues including a quarantine-free travel…