Tuesday, 28 May 2024 13:25

Friend or foe?

Written by Milking It

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OPINION: China's ambassador to NZ, Wang Xiaolong, reminded NZ exporters who is their friend when it comes to fair trading on the global market.

Speaking at the Chinese Business Summit in Auckland last week, he noted that it was the Western industrial countries that preached to China in its early stages of development the virtues of an open market, free trade and sustainability.

Xiaolong noted that China has fulfilled all its commitments and obligations under WTO and its FTAs with other countries and regions including New Zealand.

"Then, ironically, the very countries having lectured us in the first place have ditched their own sermons. It so turns out that the 'fair competition', 'comparative advantage' or 'free trade' they espouse is but a game that must be won by them and them alone, and is for everyone else to lose."

He was reminding NZ of Canada's reluctance to open their dairy market to NZ products allowed under a trade deal.

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