The NZ US Council today welcomed the opening round of negotiations for an expanded Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) which is to commence in Melbourne on Monday 15 March.

The NZ US Council understands and supports the decision of United States Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, to postpone her visit to New Zealand and focus on the crisis in Haiti.

Business representatives attending this week's APEC meetings in Singapore hope that APEC Economic Leaders will take strong steps towards free and open trade in the region.

Leaders from prominent Japanese and New Zealand companies will meet alongside senior government officials and leading academics in Tokyo at the second Japan New Zealand Partnership Forum which opens tomorrow Friday 30 October 2009 at 9.30 am Tokyo/1.30 pm NZ time.

A team from the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) is in Geneva this week to lobby for a successful conclusion to the World Trade Organisation's Doha Development Agenda. New Zealander Tony Nowell chairs ABAC's Liberalisation Working Group and is in Geneva for this visit.

WEDNESDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2009 4.30PM

The emerging economic recovery in both countries, and the strongest relationship in 25 years, provides a solid base for closer economic alignment between New Zealand and the United States, senior business leaders were told today at a briefing ahead of the third US NZ Partnership Forum.

The New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) will be represented at this week's meeting of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum by Chairman Graeme Harrison and Executive Director Stephen Jacobi.

23 June 2009 - The NZ US Council rejects as "scare-mongering" unsubstantiated claims that New Zealand would be disadvantaged in a future free trade agreement with the United States.

The Korea-New Zealand Business Roundtable, which took place in Seoul 9-10 June, has been successful in enhancing high level business contacts and establishing a new vehicle to take the economic relationship forward, the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) said today.