Summary
On 5 June 2026, Li Chenggang, International Trade Negotiation Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce of China, and Mao Rui, Deputy Secretary of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, co-chaired the 34th China-New Zealand Economic and Trade Joint Committee in Beijing. They exchanged in-depth views on deepening bilateral economic and trade relations and enhancing cooperation in regional and multilateral areas. Li Chenggang noted that the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Luxon in June 2025 set new directions for bilateral relations, and both sides should leverage the Joint Committee mechanism to promote trade and investment cooperation, and advance negotiations on a negative list for services trade under the Free Trade Agreement.
Under the current international economic and trade situation, China and New Zealand should jointly defend the multilateral trading system centred on the World Trade Organization, and strengthen collaboration within regional frameworks such as APEC. Mao Rui pointed out that China has long remained New Zealand's largest trading partner and largest source of international students, and China's sustained and stable economic growth is crucial for New Zealand. New Zealand is willing to further expand bilateral economic and trade cooperation, accelerate the negative list negotiations on services trade, and welcome more Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in New Zealand.
No specific quantitative outcomes were announced at the meeting; details of subsequent negotiations are yet to be revealed.
Commentary
The convening of the China-New Zealand Economic and Trade Joint Committee has sent a positive signal of stable bilateral relations. For small and medium enterprise (SME) owners, the negative list negotiations on services trade are a key focus: if the list is further reduced, New Zealand's service export enterprises in education, tourism, logistics, etc., will gain clearer market access rules and greater market space. However, the negotiation timeline is uncertain; businesses should not blindly bet on short-term breakthroughs but should instead sort out their own service advantages in advance, monitor China's regulatory developments, and use the Joint Committee mechanism to provide feedback on industry demands.
Meanwhile, China's reaffirmation of the multilateral trading system implies that tariff barriers may remain low in the future, which is positive for bulk exporters of dairy products, meat, etc., but vigilance is needed against sudden trade restrictions arising from geopolitical fluctuations. It is recommended that SME owners track negotiation progress through channels such as New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and consider diversifying their portfolios to reduce dependence on a single market.
Keywords: 34th Economic and Trade Joint Committee, China-New Zealand economic and trade cooperation, negative list for services trade, Li Chenggang, Mao Rui, bilateral trade, multilateral trading system, APEC
Summary in Chinese | 摘要
2026年6月5日，商务部国际贸易谈判代表兼副部长李成钢与新西兰外交贸易部副秘书长毛瑞在京共同主持召开第34届中新经贸联委会，就深化双边经贸关系、加强区域和多边领域合作深入交换意见。李成钢表示，2025年6月习近平主席同拉克森总理会晤为中新关系作出新规划，双方应发挥联委会机制作用，推动贸易投资合作，推进自贸协定服务贸易负面清单谈判。在当前国际经贸形势下，中新应共同捍卫以世贸组织为核心的多边贸易体制，加强在亚太经合组织等区域框架下协作。
毛瑞指出，中国长期保持新西兰最大贸易伙伴、最大留学生来源地地位，中国经济持续稳定增长对新方至关重要。新方愿继续扩大双边经贸合作，加紧推进服务贸易负面清单谈判，欢迎更多中国企业赴新投资兴业。会议未公布具体量化成果，后续谈判细节待揭晓。
Commentary in Chinese | 评论
中新经贸联委会的召开释放了双边关系稳定的积极信号。对中小企业主而言，服务贸易负面清单谈判是关键看点：若清单进一步缩减，新西兰教育、旅游、物流等服务出口企业将获得更清晰的准入规则和更大市场空间。但谈判周期存在不确定性，企业不应盲目押注短期突破，而应提前梳理自身服务优势，关注中国监管动态，利用联委会机制反馈行业诉求。
同时，中方重申多边贸易体制，意味着未来关税壁垒可能保持低位，这对乳制品、肉类等大宗出口商是利好，但需警惕地缘政治波动带来的突发性贸易限制。建议中小企业主通过新西兰贸易发展局等渠道跟踪谈判进展，并考虑多元化布局，降低对单一市场的依赖。
关键词: 第34届经贸联委会, 中新经贸合作, 服务贸易负面清单, 李成钢, 毛瑞, 双边贸易, 多边贸易体制, 亚太经合组织