Written by Admin | January 17, 2010
NZIER economic modelling shows that the New Zealand economy would benefit significantly from being included in a free trade agreement with East Asian countries. An ambitious agreement that covers trade in goods, services, investment and encourages trade facilitation and competition could increase New Zealand's economic welfare by around 2% of GDP. Being excluded from East Asian regional integration, on the other hand, would damage our economic prospects. This suggests that the government should continue to invest in deepening linkages with East Asian countries.