In the last eight or so years, trade policy has become more a matter of politics than policy in the USA. Trade became a political issue in the 2016 Presidential election and President Trump took the US out of the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement, thus thwarting New Zealand’s longstanding hopes of achieving a trade agreement with the US.
US political sensitivities about trade have persisted during President Biden’s tenure and the US has not entered into any new free trade agreements under his Administration. Our 2024 NZUS Council Media Fellow Pete McKenzie reports that the outlook for New Zealand to secure a free trade agreement with the US is gloomy for the foreseeable future. Maybe so, but it will remain high on the priority list for New Zealand exporters and the NZUS Council.
You can read Pete McKenzie’s report in The Herald here: www.nzherald.co.nz/business/united-states-free-trade-agreement-right-off-the-table-pete-mckenzie/N7MYYQSZPRAUBCVAZLGWEV3EY4/#:~:text=The%20great%20hope%20of%20New,American%20officials%20and%20trade%20analysts.