FTA with China passed into law

Parliament has passed into law the Free Trade Agreement with China. MPs have voted 104 to 17 in favour of the historic trade deal, the first the Chinese have had with a developed nation. Those opposed to the deal were New Zealand First, the Greens and the Maori Party. Trade Minister Phil Goff says the FTA will bring major benefits for New Zealand exporters, with trade between the two countries already worth more than $2 billion a year. The deal still has to be approved by the Governor General, and is likely to come into effect in October. Share this... [read full story]