Doubts on Russia trade deal

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters wants to revive trade negotiations with Russia, but a foreign policy trade expert is calling the move puzzling.

New Zealand came close to finalising a free trade agreement with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan before the Crimean and Ukraine crises put negotiations on hold in 2014. Reopening trade negotiations with the three countries was in the coalition agreement between Labour and New Zealand First.

Otago University international relations expert professor Robert Patman said proposing to revive trade talks undermined New Zealand’s economic, political and national interests, because the conditions that led to sanctions being imposed on Russia had not changed.

On Tuesday, European Union (EU) ambassador Bernard Savage opposed Peters’ plans to trade with Russia.

Council of Trade Unions director Bill Rosenberg, who attended the briefing, said trade with the three countries was a ‘‘significant concern’’ because of their ‘‘awful’’ labour standards.

However, former ambassador to Russia Stuart Prior said that although a free trade agreement would be the end of a lengthy process, the conversations between the countries needed to be had for New Zealand to open up to new business opportunities.

‘‘Closing one’s eyes to Russia and its neighbouring countries is the equivalent to closing one’s eyes to Britain’s empire a century ago.’’

With China making inroads in Kazakhstan through its One belt, One road trade approach, using the new trade routes would also open New Zealand up to new opportunities, Prior said.