Free trade talks could be made easier

Having more nations at the table may make it easier for the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade talks to be finalised.

With Mexico and Canada joining the negotiations there are now eleven nations involved in the proposed trade deal.

Minister of Trade Tim Groser says it's always been the trade off that the more players involved, the more chance there that there will be disagreement.

But he says it could also help seal a deal.

"Having these two very significant partners of the United States - Canada and Mexico, join the negotiation, moves it towards a bigger bang for the buck from the US point of view, and I think in some ways may make some of the political management a little easier."

Mr Groser says we stand to get extra benefits if a deal can be reached.

"If it is negotiated successfully, that covers another billion dollars of New Zealand exports. We would be delighted to be negotiating an individual FTA with either of these countries, so I think it's great that we have the privilege of sharing the first meeting with these two new-comers."

Photo: Tim Groser (APN)