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Mike Petersen: Trade to dominate talks during Chinese Premier's NZ visit

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 20 Mar 2017, 8:05AM
Trade will be the big talking point during Premier Li Keqiang's stay (NZH)

Mike Petersen: Trade to dominate talks during Chinese Premier's NZ visit

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 20 Mar 2017, 8:05AM

Don't expect any big trade announcements when China's second in control arrives next week.

Trade will be the big talking point during Premier Li Keqiang's stay here. He arrives next week for four days.

It's expected the government will use the visit to try to re-work parts of our free trade deal.

Special agriculture trade envoy Mike Petersen told Mike Hosking the existing deal has some sticking points.

"I'm not expecting an announcement next week. I'm expecting reaffirmation I guess of the process around the upgrade.

"We'd like to see the Premier reaffirm that they'd like to complete this and do it within this calendar year."

Petersen said there are good deals elsewhere that we want too.

"There are certainly new agreements that China has completed. For example with Australia, where Australia has some advantages in the short term around access for dairy products that we would like to see ironed out."

He hopes the Premier will make comments around the upgrade, and about getting it done this year.

LISTEN ABOVE AS MIKE PETERSEN SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

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