Minister Ng speaks with New Zealand’s minister for trade and export growth

May 10, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

Yesterday, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, spoke with Damien O’Connor, New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Export Growth, Minister of Agriculture, Minister for Biosecurity, Minister for Land Information, and Minister for Rural Communities.

Minister Ng recognized the importance of New Zealand as a key and reliable partner for Canada on a broad range of trade priorities, including inclusive trade, Indigenous trade cooperation through the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement, and collaboration under international agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. She reiterated that Canada takes its obligations under international agreements very seriously. Minister Ng and Minister O’Connor further discussed how Canada and New Zealand can work with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies to advance stability and economic growth in the Indo-Pacific region.

The ministers discussed Canada’s ongoing interest in acceding to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement. Minister Ng expressed her appreciation for New Zealand’s support for Canada’s potential candidacy. Minister Ng noted that she was looking forward to further opportunities to engage with Minister O’Connor on bilateral and multilateral trade issues at upcoming meetings of APEC, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the World Trade Organization.

Minister Ng expressed her appreciation for New Zealand’s response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unjustifiable and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine—which was done with the support of the Belarusian regime—including New Zealand’s application of a tariff of 35% on imports from Russia. In March 2022, Canada led the way by revoking the Most-Favoured-Nation Tariff status of Russia and Belarus, under the Customs Tariff.

Minister Ng noted that it is vital to maintain open and predictable trade in agricultural products in response to the food crisis caused by the invasion of Ukraine, and to continue the close collaboration between Canada and New Zealand at the WTO on further possible measures.

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