Exports up again

The monthly trade stats out again. Some extracts:

• Exports at $50.6 billion 9.5% higher than a year ago
• Balance of trade surplus of $1.2 billion. In 2008 it was a $4.6 billion deficit
• Exports to China up 52% from a year ago, UK 11%, Singapore 14% and Taiwan 15%

We recently signed an FTA with Taiwan. FTAs are good. We are a small trading nation. Two parties in Parliament have a history of consistently opposing almost all trade agreements that improve access for NZ exporters.