Since Key's return, the PM's department has reached out to various New Zealand businesses to ask them for their views, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

The bully boys of American trade have issued a thinly veiled threat of repercussions to NZ's exports if the Govt persists with plain packaging, writes Brian Rudman.

Toyota Australia has completed the demise of the Australian car industry, saying it will stop building cars in that country by the end of 2017.

A group of six American business groups say they are "deeply disturbed" at the New Zealand Government's plans to introduce plain cigarette packets.

In the socialist state of Venezuela that is home to the world's largest oil and gas reserves, petrol is cheaper than water. But not for much longer.

The New Zealand dollar recovered ground against its trans-Tasman counterpart after falling unemployment firmed up expectations for a rate hike by the local central bank.

The chances of GST being applied to all overseas web-based retail purchases appear more distant after the Govt changed tack on a review into tax of online shopping.

Shaky data out of China lately has economists keeping a wary eye on New Zealand's largest trading partner.

Signs of a revival in the Aussie economy have prompted that nation's central bank to remove its easing bias.

NZ Trade Ministry spokesman says access for agricultural products to customs union is key sticking point.

The most favourable terms of trade for 40 years and a $3.1 billion rise in exports to China were not enough to close the trade gap last year.