19 Oct 2008

Govt seeks submissions on free trade talks with US

8:56 pm on 19 October 2008

The Government is calling for submissions on New Zealand's upcoming Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the United States.

The negotiations due to begin in March next year, will also involve the other members of the Trans-Pacific or P4 Partnership: Singapore, Chile and Brunei.

Trade Minister Phil Goff says the US is this country's second largest export market, accounting for almost 10% of total trade.

He says New Zealand's major exports to the US, dairy and meat, would benefit significantly from the removal of export quotas.

Horticultural exports to the US, worth $370 million last year and currently attracting tariffs of up to 23% would also be significant beneficiaries.