Summary
New Zealand's Ambassador to China, Jonathan Austin, said the international trading system is under pressure and APEC economies need to stand together to uphold the system built through decades of effort, jointly reaffirming their commitment to an open, rules-based and predictable trading order. Speaking to 21st Century Business Herald in Beijing, he noted that the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is drawing close attention, and that one of APEC's key strengths, as the Asia-Pacific's most influential economic cooperation platform, is bringing the region's major economies back to the same table. Austin said China's three priorities this year – openness, innovation and cooperation – align closely with New Zealand's own thinking and sit at the core of APEC's mission.
With global differences growing, it matters that economies sit down together to find common ground, he said. He stressed that China is New Zealand's largest trading partner and that the two economies are highly complementary. "In one day, we export as much to China as we export to an economy like Sweden in an entire year.
" New Zealand was the first developed country to sign a free trade agreement with China, and the China-NZ FTA has driven a sharp rise in two-way trade. The two countries are now negotiating in services trade, with both sides hoping to reach an agreement before the end of this year.
Commentary
New Zealand's ambassador to China has stressed that APEC must reaffirm open cooperation, and signalled that talks to upgrade China-NZ services trade could conclude before year-end. For New Zealand's small and medium-sized business owners, services are a pillar of the economy, accounting for about 70 percent of GDP and contributing more than 80 percent of employment. China is New Zealand's largest trading partner and two-way services trade has grown steadily over the years, but New Zealand's services exports to China are concentrated in tourism, education and professional services – a far smaller share than dairy and meat in goods trade.
Should a deal land by year-end, it could open windows in cross-border data flows, mutual recognition of professional qualifications and market access for digital services, giving small law firms, engineering consultancies, IT and creative businesses clearer rules for entering the Chinese market. On the other hand, RCEP is already in force, yet China remains relatively cautious in opening some services sectors, and New Zealand firms need to watch the reservations in specific commitment schedules and negative-list management. A revival of multilateral consensus at APEC would also help smaller economies reduce their passive exposure to global trade fragmentation and the unpredictability of non-tariff barriers.
Whether the talks translate into workable market opportunities depends on domestic regulatory reform and on-the-ground business support, not on diplomatic statements alone.
Keywords: New Zealand Ambassador to China, APEC, open cooperation, international trading system, China-New Zealand trade relations, free trade agreement, services trade negotiations, Jonathan Austin, Asia-Pacific economy, trade rules
Source: Tencent Web
Disclaimer: This article is compiled from publicly available sources for general information only. The analysis and commentary are editorial opinions. MiDeer Observer does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. Readers should seek independent professional advice before relying on this content, or contact us for more information.
