Wednesday, 03 April 2024 14:25

China trade

Written by Milking It

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OPINION: Last week's revelation that data relating to New Zealand MPs was stolen amid Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage targeting two arms of the country’s Parliament could test the long-standing trade relations between the two countries.

NZ was the first country to sign a free trade deal with China in 2008 and our primary sector, particularly dairy, has benefited greatly. A big chunk of Fonterra’s earnings come from sales in Greater China.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.

“Foreign interference of this nature is unacceptable, and we have urged China to refrain from such activity in future,” he says.

A few years ago, when the Australian Government publicly accused China of spying, retaliatory bans on wine, grain and wheat were slapped by Beijing. Here’s hoping that the Chinese won’t do such a thing to our exports.

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