Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School

Registration now open

Thursday 21 - Friday 22 November 2024

ATEPS 2023: Leading Trade Agreements for Sustainable Futures

Tuesday 21 November 2023

Fale Pasifika, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

The next Auckland Trade and Economic School was a one-day event in November:

Mihi

Panel 1: What just happened and where to next?

• Vangelis Vitalis (MFAT) 
• Sarah Salmond (MinterEllison)
• Michael Fox (Zespri, NZBC)
• Stephanie Honey (Honey Consulting)
• Chair: Brett O'Riley (EMA)

Panel 2: UK-EU-NZ Trade Policy Futures

• Stephen Cartwright (Consul General and Trade Counsellor, British Consulate Auckland)
• Diane Lacoste (Trade Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union)
• Chair: Maureen Benson-Rea (University of Auckland)
  

Panel 3: Business as Usual or New Opportunities?

• Justine Arroll (Fonterra)

Panel 4: Advocating for Inclusive Trade

• Jane Korinek (OECD)
• Jennifer Curtin (University of Auckland)

Panel 5: Indigenous trade leadership

• Carrie Stoddart-Smith (OpinioNative)
• Tania Te Whenua (Te Whenua Consulting)
• Andrew Watene (KPMG)
• Chair: Tane Waetford (MFAT)

Panel 6: Engaging the public - translating the value of trade

• Joshua Hitchcock (Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa)
• Richard Harman (Politik)
• Fran O'Sullivan (NZInc)
• Chair: Clare Wilson (NZTE)

Reception

More information on speakers coming soon, but registration is now open.

Day one: Thursday 23 February
Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific

• 9.00am - Registration and Coffee
• 9.30am - Welcome
• 9.45am - Ministerial Speech: Hon Damien O'Connor
• 10.00am - Panel 1: The Trans-Tasman geo-political context and regional priorities
• 11.00am - Morning Tea
• 11.30am - Panel 2: Evolving developments in global trade: challenges for New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific  
• 1.00pm - Lunch
• 1.45pm - Panel 3: The future of digital trade
• 3.00pm - Afternoon Tea
• 3.30pm - Keynote   
• 3.45pm - Panel 4: Developments in Australian Indigenous and Māori Trade
• 5.30pm - Reception

Day two: Friday 24 February
Future frameworks for regional and global trade initiatives

• 9.30am - Registration and coffee
• 10.00am - Panel 5: Recent Developments – New Zealand and Regional Free Trade Agreements 
• 11.30am - Morning Tea
• 12.00pm - Panel 6: Future Focus - Sustainable Trade and the Green Economy
• 1.15pm - Lunch
• 1.50pm - Panel 7: Business Aspirations for CER and the region
• 2.45pm - Panel 8: Moving Forward on Trade in a Turbulent Trade Future
• 3.45pm - Closing Remarks

Resetting trade rules and norms in the context of Covid19  

In the past year there have been multiple calls from international organisations and political leaders for a resetting of trade arrangements and increased cooperation. Geopolitical tensions globally and regionally present challenges for these aspirations as do the realities of ongoing border closures and the variable effects of other domestic policy settings.  

Nevertheless, the advent and persistence of COVID19 has created a space for new conversations and action around international trade rules, the connections between trade and health, digital trade regulations and, perhaps most significantly, the ongoing importance of advancing a greener trading system. How realistic is this idea of a reset, what might new trade arrangements look like? Will old trade wars continue to loom large for the Asia Pacific region, and what needs to be part of a sustainable trade agenda for the future that is inclusive of the Pacific, Indigenous people and diverse business interests? 

The 2021 Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School (ATEPS) features a range of local and international experts who addressed these questions over two half-days.

Theme: Advancing Inclusivity and Sustainability through Trade in the 21st Century

Date: Friday 4 - Saturday 5 December 2020 

With keynote speeches by Hon Damien O'Connor (Minister for Trade and Export Growth) and James Shaw (Minister for Climate Change)

Over the past thirty years, we have witnessed significant reduction in tariffs, an increase in APEC’s share of world trade, and a considerable growth in the number of trade agreements. New and increased market access coupled with enhanced enforceability of global trade rules has contributed to increased international openness and economic integration. 

Yet, despite these achievements, we are living in a world where 'uncertainty is the new normal'.¹ Political and trade tensions remain, the reform of the WTO’s dispute settlement process is still unresolved and, as APEC’s economy has grown, so has its environmental footprint.² Now 2020 has brought with it a new uncertainty. Coronavirus Covid-19 arguably represents the greatest challenge to the global and domestic economies since the financial crisis of 2008, bringing with it increased restrictions on the movement of people, goods and services, falls in business and consumer confidence, and slowing production.

Simultaneously, we are witnessing the EU and some national governments’ attempts to implement a more inclusive and sustainable approach to the process and substance of trade agreements.³ Driven in part by commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals, these initiatives are also a result of public pressure for trade policy to rebuild social licence by responding more effectively to these challenges. As such, Indigenous and social rights, gender equality, climate change mitigation and carbon tariffs, and sharing prosperity are critical issues for “future fit” trade policies. 

Given the Asia-Pacific region's growing economic weight, APEC can play an important role contributing to the global response to these challenges. Looking ahead to New Zealand’s hosting of APEC 2021, the 2020 University of Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School (#ATEPS2020) brings together leading national and international experts on trade policy to discuss what is required to advance inclusive and sustainable trade in today’s highly volatile economic environment. 

ATEPS 2020 features a number of international speakers, including:

• Rt Honourable Greg Hands (UK Minister of State for Trade Policy)
• Wendy Cutler (Asia Society Policy Institute)
• Dr Marion Jansen (OECD)
• Georgina Wainwright-Kemdirim (Global Affairs Canada)
• Karsten Steinfatt (World Trade Organisation)
• Alice Tipping (International Institute for Sustainable Development)

We also hear from a wide range of trade experts from Aotearoa New Zealand, including:

• Rachel Tauleilei (Kono, APEC)
• Carrie Stoddart-Smith (Opino Native)
• Afamasaga Jackie Curry (Spacific Consultancy)
• Natasha Hamilton-Hart (University of Auckland)
• Anna Strutt (Waikato University)
• Collin Tukuitonga (University of Auckland)
• Fran O'Sullivan (NZME)
• Mitchell Pham (NZ Digital Council)
• Maria Bargh (Victoria University Wellington)
• Amokura Kawharu (NZ Law Commission)
• Hōne McGregor (Trade for All)
• Stephanie Honey (NZ International Business Forum)
• Chris Karamea Insley (Te Taumata)
• Vangelis Vitalis (MFAT)
• Rob Scollay (APEC Studies Centre)
• Rodney Jones (Wigram Capital)
• Frank Scrimgeour (University of Waikato)
• Maureen Benson-Rea (University of Auckland)
• Asha Sundaram (University of Auckland)

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¹ Dato’ Sri Norazman Ayob, Deputy Secretary General of Industry of Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

² APEC Regional Trends Analysis: APEC at 30: A Region in Constant Change, APEC Policy Support Unit May 2019.

³ https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/nz-trade-policy/trade-for-all-agenda/ (2019); Trade for all - Towards a more responsible trade and investment policy, European Union (2015).

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