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New Zealand looks to break down barriers in APEC markets: official

Xinhua, September 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

New Zealand Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith will be seeking to break down behind-the-border trade barriers at an Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting on structural reform in the Philippines next week.

"Structural reform looks to open up trade and markets by removing any behind-the-border barriers to doing business. These barriers could be regulations, government policies or institutional frameworks which act as obstacles to trade and investment between members," Goldsmith said in a statement Friday.

New Zealand would be chairing the APEC Economic Committee, which takes a leading role in promoting structural reform within APEC, through to 2016.

"I am looking forward to participating in these meetings where APEC members gain insight on reform progress in each economy and learn from each other on how to overcome obstacles," said Goldsmith.

"By working on behind-the-border impediments to economic growth, we can further the APEC goals of sustained growth and better regional economic integration," he said.

"Structural reform within APEC will help New Zealand businesses enter more easily into markets in the region."

Goldsmith would go on to hold a series of meetings with policy experts and ministerial counterparts in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the New Zealand Parliament will join representatives from 22 countries to discuss regional issues and promote greater understanding and cooperation, at the 36th ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in Kuala Lumpur from Sept. 6 to 12.

AIPA is a forum for parliamentarians from the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and also 12 observer parliaments, including New Zealand, India, Australia, the European Parliament and China. Endi