EU, not Russia, top trade priority – Ardern
The prime minister has given an assurance a free trade deal with the European Union is still New Zealand’s top priority, following comments from Foreign Minister Winston Peters that appeared to suggest a softening toward Russia.
Jacinda Ardern said his comments were trying to make the point that other countries had been trading around sanctions applied to Russia, and New Zealand deserved fair access relative to other countries.
On TV3’s The Nation, Peters said there was ‘‘no evidence’’ Russia had a hand in shooting down flight MH17 over Ukraine or that it had meddled in the United States election.
‘‘We have a lot of allegations but we do not have the facts laid out clearly,’’ said Peters.
Late last year, the European Union’s ambassador to New Zealand said the EU would take a ‘‘dim view’’ of any increased relations or trading with Russia. The European commissioner was due to visit New Zealand to launch talks but didn’t, citing concern over the new Government’s position.
The coalition agreement between Labour and NZ First details plans to unfreeze the Russia Free Trade Deal.
Ardern said a free trade deal with the EU was New Zealand’s top priority.
‘‘Let me clearly restate our position again when it comes to trade generally within Europe: We, as a Government, are prioritising the EU free trade agreement and there is good reason for that.
‘‘We’re seeking a mandate this year, to proceed with that negotiation and are very hopeful about that. The reason for that being a priority is significant, the scale of it is significant.
‘‘But what the deputy prime minister has pointed out is that whilst sanctions have been in place [with Russia], there have been other countries within Europe that have traded around those sanctions,’’ Ardern added.
‘‘New Zealand has applied the spirit of the sanctions but, of course, we have a number of nontariff barriers that apply still to us in that trade exchange that we’re seeking to overcome, and just make sure that New Zealand is treated fairly in the same way that others have been trading around the sanctions.’’
But she also noted Peters’ comments were in response to specific questions.
‘‘It strikes me that a lot of the conversation was the deputy prime minister was having was around, first and foremost, New Zealand being able to access trade agreements in a fair way.’’
National Party foreign affairs and trade spokesman Todd McClay said the Government was sending mixed messages and risking the EU deal. ‘‘The Government may deny that but it’s in their coalition agreement and I’m just not sure why it’s there.
‘‘It’s for the prime minister to front up and explain exactly what her foreign minister means and whether we’re seeing a change of foreign policy on the part of the new Government,’’ he said.
The EU deal was worth $20 billion in two-way trade.
"We as a Government are prioritising the EU free trade deal and there is good reason for that." Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern