Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has vowed to pursue free trade agreements with seven new countries, including Nigeria, Bangladesh, Brazil and Argentina, within five years if re-elected.
While critics warn this aggressive expansion is similar to the controversial New Zealand-India FTA, trade spokesman Todd McLay said a National government would apply the same ambition and focus as they “chase New Zealand’s next billion customers”.
However, rather than strengthening New Zealand, the policy could flood markets with low-cost competition which would erode domestic industries, accelerate demographic shifts, deepen inequality and strain infrastructure. Read more at RNZ, Holyhekatuiteka on X and David Seymour on X or watch RCR’s interviews with Jackson Fowler and Joshua Riley.
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