May 22, 2023
Free trade next step for exporters
Federation of Māori Authorities chair Traci Houpapoa says Māori exporters are looking at reaping the work done on trade deals rather than expecting anything from last week’s Budget.
She says the Budget was boring but well-balanced.
Of more interest are the free trade agreements with the United Kingdom and the European Union which will save exporters millions of dollars in tariffs and allow better access for Maori-grown produce.
“They’re both great trade mechanisms, and of course we have a predilection to move into the Asia region – which is bigger than China, bigger than Japan, and includes India. Of course India’s a huge market for us, that have said – our indian whanaunga have said ‘we want a relationship first, and then we want to trade. And of course that’s te ao Maori thinking at its best,” Ms Houpapa says.