A foot in both camps

This is 2021 New Zealand, not post-World War II New Zealand.

Both the US and United Kingdom refuse to provide us with a free trade deal. China does, and not only is it our biggest trading partner, but it also provides the most foreign students, highest immigration inflow, is the most popular foreign language in our schools, and provides one of the highest inbound

foreign investment inputs.

We are an island trading nation in the Asia/Pacific circle, with the US, our historical ally, withdrawing its influence in the Pacific arena, imposing tariffs upon our goods. And the US also happens to be a dysfunctional democracy.

The United Kingdom is 20,000km away, is part of the European continent, and restrictive in its trade deals and immigration policies with New Zealand. People forget 1973.

We don’t need to choose between the US and China – both have questionable and difficult pedigrees – we need to adopt a neutral approach, be very careful to pick our battles, attempting to keep a positive relationship with both.

Relationships and dialogue must be retained at all costs, our comments measured and with principle.

Alec Waugh, Nelson