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The United States has signaled that it is open to a free trade agreement with New Zealand, according to Todd Michael McClay, New Zealand’s Minister of Trade. He visited the United States last week for high-level talks with President Donald Trump’s administration. McClay met with US Secretary of Trade Wilbur Ross, as well as recently appointed Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

“I welcomed their interest in a free trade deal as a demonstration of the good form in which our trade relations are”, said Todd Michael McClay in a statement. According to him, his center-right government wants free trade to cover 90% of the goods exported in 2030 from the current 50% share. According to New Zealand’s Minister of Trade, the US will be an important part of achieving this goal.

Bilateral trade between the two countries reached 16 billion USD per year, with the United States being New Zealand’s third largest trading partner.

The New Zealand’s economy, which worth 180 billion USD, depends on exports, and the country lobbied strongly in support of the Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement. Together with Australia and Japan, New Zealand is trying to negotiate a deal for the 11 countries that remained in this deal after Trump withdrew the United States.