New Zealand exporters welcome free trade deal with China

WELLINGTON, April 7 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand exporters on Monday welcomed the historic Free Trade Agreement with China, praising its terms and forecasting soaring sales in the world's fastest-growing economy, New Zealand media reported.

China and New Zealand signed the FTA in Beijing on Monday. It is the first comprehensive FTA China signed with a developed country. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark witnessed the signing ceremony.

Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly said the agreement meant China had the potential to become New Zealand's largest export market.

He described the FTA as "an outstanding achievement" and said it was now up to New Zealand businesses to capitalize on the deal, the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA) said.

Meat and Wool New Zealand, the Seafood Industry Council, the Dairy Companies Association and the dairy products giant Fonterra joined the chorus of approval.

Fonterra chairman Henry van der Heyden said the FTA meant New Zealand was developing closer ties with a global powerhouse.

"It will significantly improve access for New Zealand exporters, provide certainty in our trading environment going forward, and support Fonterra's strategy in China," the NZPA quoted him as saying.

Council of Trade Unions economist Peter Conway said it appeared union concerns had been taken on board, and the period for phasing out New Zealand's tariffs on Chinese exports was "reasonable".

Robert Reid, president of the National Distribution Union (NDU),which represents workers in the textile, clothing and footwear sector, said they were pleased that the outcome will at least provide more certainty to the local industry than New Zealand's own universal tariff reduction program has over the years.

Te Ohu Kaimoana (Maori Fisheries Trust) chief executive Peter Douglas said the deal would be good for Maori seafood exporters and could be "a shining light" in an otherwise gloomy economic outlook.