New Zealand should be the next cab off the rank in securing a free-trade deal with the Gulf Co-operation Council, with Prime Minister John Key "much more positive" about it after his recent trip to the region.
Key yesterday said most of the Gulf states were positive about signing off on the deal, although Saudi Arabia was more cautious.
The Gulf states recently completed a free trade agreement (FTA) with Singapore, and Key said New Zealand should be next on the list.
"The impression we got from all of them is that New Zealand is the next cab off the rank," Key said.
"We pushed as hard as we practically could with the Saudis - the others were effusive in their praise of why it should happen, the Saudis were a little more guarded, but I wouldn't take that as negative, I just think that's a slightly different cultural way of dealing with it."