China and New Zealand signed an agreement to upgrade their bilateral free trade agreement on January 26. The agreement will further expand the opening of aviation, Education, finance, elderly care and passenger transport to New Zealand, while New Zealand will also relax quotas for Chinese nationals applying for specialty jobs such as Chinese language teachers and tour guides.
In a statement, New Zealand Trade and Exports Minister O’Connor noted that the agreement means that 99 percent of New Zealand’s NZ$3 billion in timber and paper exports to China will receive duty-free access; more perishable New Zealand goods, including seafood, will also benefit.
An article published by the Chinese official media Xinhua said that China’s expanded opening to New Zealand is based on the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) and that the new agreement will allow the people of both countries to enjoy greater dividends of openness.
However, on the New Zealand side, this protocol has yet to be considered and approved by the Parliament.
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