The New Zealand government will have to work more closely with local businesses and may need to tinker with domestic policy to get the most out of the nation's free-trade agreements, Trade Minister Todd McClay says.
McClay is holding a series of public meetings on a planned refresh of the government's trade policy, which includes increased efforts to get more out of existing deals covering more than half the country's exports. The minister didn't rule out negotiating new agreements or upgrading existing ones, but said the new emphasis will be on getting the most out of current deals and will need more coordination between government and the private sector.
