NZUS Council

Strengthening the NZ-US Partnership for a Prosperous Future At the United States Business Summit 2024, co-hosted by Council partners #NZInc and Auckland Business Chamber, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon delivered a compelling address underscoring the importance of the New Zealand/United States relationship. His speech highlighted shared values, mutual economic opportunities, and the critical need for global collaboration. "Our partnership with the United States is not just about trade—it’s about trust, innovation, and creating opportunities for future generations," he told the 250-strong audience. Read the full speech on the Council website to explore how this partnership is shaping a stronger, more connected future: https://lnkd.in/gmjFR-bn #NZUSCouncil #NZUSPartnership #Trade #Innovation #Leadership #BilateralRelationship #NZINC #AucklandBusinessChamber

📢 Remarks from the U.S. Consul General On 21 November the U.S. Consul General Melissa Sweeney addressed the NZUS Council, highlighting the enduring and dynamic partnership between New Zealand and the United States. From growing trade ties to advancing shared values in the Indo-Pacific, the remarks emphasised collaboration in trade, innovation, security, and people-to-people connections. As we navigate a complex global landscape, the NZ/US relationship remains a pillar of strength and shared progress. Read the full speech on our website: https://lnkd.in/gyK34wXu #NZUSRelations #IndoPacific #Partnership #BilateralRelationship #USConsulGeneral #MelissaSweeney

🎙️ NZUS Council Executive Director Fiona Cooper on navigating US trade policies and tariffs In a recent interview with The Front Page podcast, the NZUS Council's Executive Director Fiona Cooper shared insights into how US trade policies and tariff dynamics could impact New Zealand businesses and our broader bilateral relationship. With ongoing discussions around tariffs and shifting trade priorities, Fiona underscored the importance of maintaining a resilient, forward-looking approach in NZ-US trade relations. The episode also features Council member Beef + Lamb New Zealand's chair Kate Acland on the proposed 10%-20% tariffs on imports into the US and what that may mean for New Zealand exporters given the US is the largest market for the country's beef and lamb industry. Listen to the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gpdeVi6f #TradePolicy #NZUS #Tariffs #BilateralRelations #NZUSCouncil #FionaCooper #USElection2024

📰 From 1 July 2025, NZ beverage exporters must comply with California's updated recycling labelling laws, requiring a California Redemption Value (CRV) statement on all containers. This change supports California's sustainability goals to boost recycling and cut landfill waste. 📈 The US is NZ's largest beverage market, with exports of NZD$822 million to August 2024. California alone accounted for NZD$440 million, making it the top buyer of NZ wines. Compliance is crucial to maintain access to this key market. You can read the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT)'s full report here: https://lnkd.in/gMAaKsrC #NZExports #CaliforniaRegulations #SustainableBusiness #BilateralRelations #NSUS #MFAT

📢 Implications of the US Election for New Zealand After much fanfare and public speculation about the outcome, the US election delivered a comprehensive win to President-Elect Donald Trump. He is now preparing for his second term in office following his swearing in on 20th January 2025. The NZUS Council reflect on what this could mean for New Zealand - see the full post on our website: https://lnkd.in/gX5VUrZZ #BilateralRelations #DonalTrump #USElection2024 #Trade #Trade #Exports

📰 NZUS Council Congressional Interns prepare to head to Washington DC. The NZUS Council’s 2024 Congressional Internship Programme is underway. Four top New Zealand university students are heading to Washington DC, for a two-month placement on Capitol Hill, where they’ll gain firsthand insights into the US political system at a fascinating time following the US elections. This internship programme, relaunched last year, continues to foster deep NZ-US connections and real-world experience in American politics. This year’s programme is run in partnership with UC Faculty of Law and Auckland Law School, The University of Auckland. Congratulations to this year's interns: Ben Christy, Silas Zhang, Isellah Gordon and Jessica Wratt who fly out with Council member Air New Zealand on 9th and 14th November. Read the press release and find out more information on the internship programme on our website: www.nzuscouncil.org #Internship #FutureLeaders #USCongress #NZUS #BilateralRelationship #CapitolHill #CanterburyUniversity #AucklandUniversity #UCFacultyofLaw #AucklandLawSchool #AirNewZealand

🔊 In the News: NZUS Council Chair Jonathan Mason recently shared insights on RNZ and Newstalk ZB, examining the significance of the upcoming US presidential election for New Zealand's interests. Speaking to Guyon Espiner at RNZ and Newstalk NB's #MikeHosking, Jonathan discussed why the US election matters to New Zealand, noting our closely interconnected economic, trade, and security relationship. Key points included: 🤝 New Zealand and the US have a deep bilateral relationship, underpinned by shared values and extensive cooperation across foreign policy, trade, security, and innovation. 🌏 The US plays a vital role in maintaining stability and promoting democracy in the Indo-Pacific and globally, which has real implications for New Zealand. 📈 Trade with the US has grown strongly in recent years , and it is now New Zealand’s second-largest export market. New Zealand exports of goods and services to the US were worth over NZ$16 billion in the year to June 2024. Two-way trade was worth $27.2b in the same period. Key New Zealand exports include beef (worth $2.46 billion), dairy ($1 billion), and wine (nearly $800 million). The US is also NZ’s largest export market for services, valued at over NZ$6 billion. The US is a key source and destination of foreign direct investment for NZ, with US investment stock in New Zealand worth NZ$64.6 billion. You can listen to Jonathan's interviews here: https://lnkd.in/g-fRcUgd https://lnkd.in/g2mbgUBQ Stay connected with the NZUS Council for ongoing updates on this evolving story and its implications for New Zealand. #NZUSCouncil #USElection2024 #Election #USElection #NZUSRelations #Trade #IndoPacific #Bilateralrelations #RNZ #NewstalkZB

The latest report from New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT) highlights notable movements in job numbers across key economies. In September, the US labour market added ~336k jobs, showcasing a performance stronger than was expected in the face of ongoing economic headwinds. For New Zealand businesses, these trends have important implications. The robust US job market presents potential opportunities for Kiwi exporters and investors as demand in one of our key markets remains strong. Understanding these shifts is crucial for businesses and policymakers as they navigate the complexities of the current economic environment. You can read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gP-36abd #GlobalEconomy #JobGrowth #EconomicTrends #USJobs #EUEconomy #IndoPacific #Trade #BilateralRelationship

📢 Major breakthrough in US Port Operations. In a significant move, US port operators are offering substantial wage increases of up to 62% to bring an end to the ongoing dockworkers' strike. This development is crucial for mitigating the disruptions in supply chains that have impacted businesses worldwide. As global trade relies heavily on efficient logistics, resolving this impasse would not only strengthen the economy but also ensure smoother international trade relations. NZ exporters will be greatly relieved that an extended port strike has been avoided. Read the full The Wall Street Journal article here: https://lnkd.in/gv25bWZ7 #SupplyChain #Logistics #GlobalTrade #PortOperations #USTrade #EconomicImpact #Leadership #BilateralRelations

The latest New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT) weekly global report notes that the USA's post-pandemic economic recovery has been stronger than expected according to recently updated US data. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gpH85xwQ   The US economy’s resilience presents valuable opportunities for New Zealand, as both nations continue to deepen their trade and investment ties. However, just at present New Zealand exporters face a significant challenge getting their products into the USA. US dockworkers went on strike at midnight on 30 September at ports along the US East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. A total of 36 ports from Maine to Texas are expected to be impacted including major hubs such as New York/New Jersey, Baltimore, Charleston, Savannah, Miami and Houston, as well as ports such as Boston, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Wilmington, Jacksonville, Tampa and New Orleans. This has affected the movement of containers in and out of these ports which handle around half of all US cargo trade, making the strike a significant threat to the supply chain.   New Zealand exporters will be affected by increased port congestion, delays, capacity tightening and increased costs across the US market. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise advises exporters to: Stay in close contact with your freight/logistics companies who are following developments closely and can provide expert advice on what options, and associated costs, may be available for the duration of the strike.   Keep your US customers well informed about potential delays and any contingency measures to mitigate these impacts.    We hope the strike will be resolved quickly and that backlogs at ports will be cleared as soon as possible. However we note that industry sources have indicated it could take six weeks to recover from a one week port strike and more for a longer strike. No doubt the matter will receive a high level of US attention just five weeks out from their elections. We will continue to monitor the situation. #NZUSRelations #USEconomy #NZExporters #USTrade #SupplyChainDisruption #PortStrike #GlobalTrade #EconomicRecovery #TradeChallenges #Logistics #InternationalTrade #NewZealandTrade #USMarkets #MFAT #TradeUpdates #NZBusiness