The Trade Law Unit within the Legal Division of the Ministry provides legal advice and representation in various international trade fora, including World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiating rounds, WTO dispute settlement proceedings, and in Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. The Unit also provides advice on the consistency of domestic New Zealand policy with our international trade law obligations.

This guide is part of a Government initiative to help suppliers better engage with government and support good procurement practice. It has been developed under the New Zealand Government Procurement Reform Programme after consultation and discussion with representatives of New Zealand businesses, senior procurement advisers from government agencies, and specialiat advice from Ron Stuart.

During the last two weeks of August 2010, ExportNZ held CEO forums in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga and Wellington to engage with exporters and discuss: what can firms do, what can ExportNZ do and what can the Government do to turbo-charge export growth?

Just 10 weeks into office, British High Commissioner, Vicki Treadell shared her views recently at an Export Breakfast in Wellington. Her theme was internationalising the export of differentiated goods and services, which she advocates is essential to step change growth at both the firm and economy level.

Annie Graham, Head of Brand for Sainsbury’s – Sustainability, Agriculture and Health, visited New Zealand recently with an interest in sourcing NZ lamb in the off-season. She also joined a range of business representatives at a BusinessNZ roundtable to share her perspective and sustainable business insight.