The 34th session of the China-New Zealand Joint Trade and Economic Commission was co-chaired by Vice Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade official Mao Rui in Beijing on June 5. Both sides agreed to push ahead with negotiations on a negative list for services trade. China underscored the importance of upholding the multilateral trading system, while New Zealand expressed its welcome for Chinese investment.

For New Zealand's small and medium-sized service exporters, progress on a negative list for services trade could deliver concrete benefits. At present, China's services imports from New Zealand are largely concentrated in tourism and education, with education services exporting about NZ$1 billion a year. Professional services such as accounting, law and environmental consulting, however, face significant access barriers.

Under a negative list regime, New Zealand's small and medium-sized professional service firms would gain a more transparent and predictable route into the Chinese market, particularly in environmental technology and agricultural consulting – areas that align with China's rural revitalisation strategy. On the other hand, lower investment thresholds for Chinese firms in New Zealand could heighten competition in the local construction and hospitality sectors. Yet given New Zealand's welcoming stance, the short-term impact is more likely to boost local employment and supply chain procurement.

Negotiations will take time, but businesses can begin studying China's existing negative list structure and prepare for mutual recognition of qualifications and local partnerships.

Keywords: China-New Zealand, Joint Trade and Economic Commission, Li Chenggang, Mao Rui, services trade, negative list, multilateral trading system, free trade agreement

6月5日，商务部李成钢与新西兰外交贸易部毛瑞在京主持第34届中新经贸联委会，双方同意推进服务贸易负面清单谈判，中方强调共同捍卫多边贸易体制，新方欢迎中国企业赴新投资。

中新推进服务贸易负面清单谈判，对新西兰中小服务出口商是实质利好。当前中国对新西兰的服务贸易进口集中于旅游和留学，教育服务年出口额约10亿新元，但会计、法律、环保咨询等专业服务受限于准入壁垒。负面清单模式一旦落地，新西兰中小型专业服务机构有望以更透明、可预见的方式进入中国市场，特别是在环保科技和农业咨询领域，可对接中国乡村振兴需求。

另一方面，中国对新西兰投资门槛降低也可能加剧本地建筑、餐饮等行业的竞争，不过考虑到新方欢迎投资，短期更可能带动本地就业和供应链采购。谈判进程尚需时日，企业可先行研究中国服务贸易负面清单的现有架构，提前布局资质互认和本地合作伙伴。

关键词: 中国-新西兰, 经贸联委会, 李成钢, 毛瑞, 服务贸易, 负面清单, 多边贸易体制, 自贸协定

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