National’s trade agenda

The Herald reports:

As part of today’s trade policy, National has pledged to seek FTAs with:

• the European Union

• the United Kingdom, after Brexit is completed

• Sri Lanka

• Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay (Mercosur)

National says it will also seek to complete negotiations with:

• TPP 11

• Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru (the Pacific Alliance)

• Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (Rcep) countries

McClay said National will also seek to upgrade existing FTAs with China, Singapore and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

Trade deals are very important for a small remote country such as New Zealand. They help both our exporters and NZ consumers. The benefits of free trade have been seen globally as hundreds of millions in China and India have been lifted out of poverty by their countries embracing trade and markets.

Labour have abandoned their former pro-trade stance. They think protectionism is best, like the Greens and NZ First.

Voters have a choice about what sort of economy they want – open and competitive, or closed.