Eight years of negotiations has culminated in the government signing what is the world's largest free-trade agreement by population and GDP.
New Zealand is one of 15 Asia-Pacific countries to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade deal - better known as R-CEP.
Some critics say the deal was unnecessary and offers little beyond the status quo while others applaud the certainty it will provide for exporters.
Former senior government trade deal negotiator Charles Finny speaks to Corin Dann.
