Charles Finny: Speak up, and don't worry if you're late

COMMENT

The Gateway To China Conference is being held on September 1, the day on which the submissions phase of the Government's study on the feasibility of a between China and New Zealand is scheduled to close.

At the time of writing several days before the conference, a good number of submissions have been received. More are arriving every day. And if you are still planning to make a submission, but have yet to complete it, you will be in good company if you are a day or two past the deadline.

The submission process has been supplemented by an extensive consultation programme throughout New Zealand. This is ongoing and will continue well past September 1 (for example, a further series of meetings is set down for September 2 in Auckland, September 8 in Rotorua and Tauranga, and September 8 in Hamilton).

Representatives of the China free trade agreement task force have met about 120 companies representing around 80 per cent of exports to China and 50 per cent of imports from China. We have spoken also to most of the companies which have investments in China or investment relationships with China. Meetings have also been held with a range of companies, groups or individuals with views on the free trade agreement possibility. Several meetings have also been held with the CTU and individual unions. We are very grateful for the time these companies, organisations or individuals have given us in the study process. Many have spent extra time filling out detailed questionnaires.


At the conference I hope to be able to give participants a snapshot of the feedback we are receiving from this process.

Aside from our domestic consultation programme, we are working with China on the text of a joint feasibility study. Two formal rounds of consultations have been held, and another is scheduled for the end of September. We are working towards having the study completed and published before the end of the year.

We have also commissioned some work from the New Zealand Institute for Economic Research and the Centre for International Economics in Canberra on the effects of a China-New Zealand free trade agreement. This work is progressing to schedule and we are hopeful that the results can be included in the joint feasibility study at the end of the year.

Anyone wanting more information about the operation of the Task Force or the submissions process can look at our website www.mfat.govt.nz.

We are particularly keen to hear from companies, or groups of individuals who would like to meet task force representatives to discuss the implications of a China-New Zealand free trade agreement.

* Charles Finny, director, China FTA Task Force

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