“There is no suggestion that China is about to apply measures to NZ exports.”
The latest data from Stats NZ shows that $17.8 billion or 31% of NZ’s merchandise goods exports went to China in the 12 months to April 30.
O’Connor made the remarks after Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta told The Guardian NZ could find itself at the heart of a “storm” of anger from China, and exporters should diversify to ensure they can “withstand the impact”.
“We cannot ignore, obviously, what’s happening in Australia with their relationship with China. And if they are close to an eye of the storm or in the eye of the storm, we’ve got to legitimately ask ourselves – it may only be a matter of time before the storm gets closer to us,” she told the publication.
O’Connor acknowledged there are “areas where we don’t agree with China”.
However, “in a trading relationship of this size and complexity, issues can arise at any time,” he said.
He says trade diversification has long been a part of NZ’s trade policy and “as I have said recently it makes sense not to have an over-reliance on any one market”.
According to O’Connor, the government’s trade-recovery strategy seeks to give business options, including through a network of free trade agreements (FTAs) providing better market access, and level playing fields with competitors, in a range of key markets.
However, “ultimately commercial decisions rest with exporters themselves,” he said.
Meanwhile, China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian also downplayed concerns in response to a question about whether or not NZ should be preparing for any potential deterioration in the trade relationship with China.
“China and New Zealand are each other’s important cooperation partners. The considerable progress in China-New Zealand relations is achieved on the premise that the two sides have long been committed to mutual respect, mutual trust and win-win results,” he said at his regular press conference.
“We hope New Zealand can carry forward the spirit of ‘striving to be the first’ and the principle of mutual respect and equal treatment, work with China toward the same direction, make the pie of cooperation bigger, rise above external distractions, and jointly advance China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership.”
BusinessDesk
