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Cabinet officials

New Zealand Trade Minister Damien O'Connor to Visit Europe for Global Economic Forum and WTO Meetings

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Trade and Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor will be visiting Europe this week to discuss crucial topics such as agricultural trade, climate change, WTO reform, and New Zealand's agricultural innovation. O'Connor will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture in Berlin, Germany, meeting with industry leaders and government officials to promote New Zealand's trade interests. The focus of O'Connor's visit is on supporting New Zealand exporters and reforming the WTO to benefit all member countries.

Key Takeaways:

  • Damien O'Connor will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss WTO reform and New Zealand's agricultural innovation, and participate in a panel on indigenous trade, highlighting New Zealand's Trade for All agenda.
  • O'Connor will hold bilateral meetings with trade counterparts, attend a Swiss-hosted WTO mini-ministerial meeting, and a Canada-hosted "Ottawa Group" session on WTO reform.
  • A key priority for New Zealand is the return to a well-functioning dispute settlement system as a critical pillar of the WTO, which will be discussed during the Ottawa Group meeting.
  • O'Connor will also attend the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture in Berlin, Germany, to showcase New Zealand's global leadership and innovation in sustainable agriculture and discuss partnership opportunities for climate research in agriculture.
  • Both meetings will provide opportunities to lobby for the ratification of the EU-NZ Free Trade Agreement and for New Zealand's candidate for Director General of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), Dr. John Barker.
  • O'Connor will be traveling from 17 January to 25 January 2023.

Statistics:

  • New Zealand's Trade for All agenda will be highlighted during O'Connor's participation in a panel on indigenous trade at the World Economic Forum.
  • The World Economic Forum brings together civil society, business, and political leaders annually to discuss the world's most pressing challenges.
  • The Global Forum for Food and Agriculture is the world's largest informal conference of agriculture ministers and industry.
  • New Zealand's candidate for Director General of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) is Dr. John Barker.

Sources:

  • New Zealand Government, "Trade and Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor to visit Europe for global economic forum and WTO meetings"
  • World Economic Forum, "World Economic Forum Annual Meeting"
  • Global Forum for Food and Agriculture, "Global Forum for Food and Agriculture"
  • New Zealand Government, "Trade for All"
  • International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), "About OIV"

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