Leather in line for a boost as New Zealand-China trade strengthens
New Zealand’s leather industry could be in line for a boost in exports to China as trade relations between the two countries become stronger.
China and New Zealand’s first free-trade agreement came into force in 2008. They updated the agreement in 2021. Both countries are signatories to the Asia-Pacific Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which became effective at the start of 2022.
According to the latest figures, trade between the two had a value of $23.4 billion in the first 11 months of last year, an increase of 3.2% year on year.
Timber, dairy, leather, fruit, meat, pulp and raw materials for textiles are New Zealand’s main imports to China. Clothing, machinery, vehicles, trains, telecommunication equipment, computers, furniture, toys and sporting goods make up most of China’s exports to New Zealand.
In recent comments to China Daily, the deputy director-general of relations with China at the ministry for primary industries in New Zealand, Tim Knox, said his country’s high-quality agricultural products were an important part of efforts to promote close cooperation with China. He said he and his colleagues were working closely with the customs authorities in China to boost exports further in 2023.
