Xinhua, Wellington :
New Zealand is expected to be one of the first countries to start talks over a trade agreement with the Pacific Alliance of four Latin American nations, Trade Minister Todd McClay said Thursday.
McClay met formally with ministers of the Pacific Alliance – a bloc comprising Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru – in Chile Wednesday to pitch a trade deal between New Zealand and the alliance.
He welcomed the announcement by Pacific Alliance ministers that they would look to progressively advance their trade agenda and offer associate membership of the alliance as a precursor to trade negotiations with selected countries.
“I have welcomed the alliance announcement as a significant development, and expect New Zealand to be one of the first countries to start negotiations with the trading bloc,” McClay said in a statement from his office.
“The prospect of a high quality and comprehensive trade deal for New Zealand with the Pacific Alliance has now increased significantly,” he said.
“We have been in dialogue with the Pacific Alliance for around two years and I am delighted that we can now see our way clear to taking a next step with these countries.”
The Pacific Alliance has 49 observer countries, a combined population of 206 million and GDP of 3,572 billion U.S. dollars.
McClay also attended a meeting of representatives of the 11 remaining Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) nations, which was held on the margins of the High Level Dialogue on Integration Initiatives in the Asia-Pacific at Vina del Mar, Chile.
New Zealand is expected to be one of the first countries to start talks over a trade agreement with the Pacific Alliance of four Latin American nations, Trade Minister Todd McClay said Thursday.
McClay met formally with ministers of the Pacific Alliance – a bloc comprising Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru – in Chile Wednesday to pitch a trade deal between New Zealand and the alliance.
He welcomed the announcement by Pacific Alliance ministers that they would look to progressively advance their trade agenda and offer associate membership of the alliance as a precursor to trade negotiations with selected countries.
“I have welcomed the alliance announcement as a significant development, and expect New Zealand to be one of the first countries to start negotiations with the trading bloc,” McClay said in a statement from his office.
“The prospect of a high quality and comprehensive trade deal for New Zealand with the Pacific Alliance has now increased significantly,” he said.
“We have been in dialogue with the Pacific Alliance for around two years and I am delighted that we can now see our way clear to taking a next step with these countries.”
The Pacific Alliance has 49 observer countries, a combined population of 206 million and GDP of 3,572 billion U.S. dollars.
McClay also attended a meeting of representatives of the 11 remaining Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) nations, which was held on the margins of the High Level Dialogue on Integration Initiatives in the Asia-Pacific at Vina del Mar, Chile.
