National Party Pledges New Trade Negotiations Targeting ‘Next Billion Customers’ if Re-elected

New Zealand’s governing National Party has pledged to open new trade negotiations with a range of economies within five years if it wins re-election in November, framing the move as a key part of its strategy to grow export markets and reach what it calls the country’s “next billion customers.”

Trade spokesperson Todd McClay announced the policy in Auckland on Sunday alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The first wave of proposed talks would target Brazil, Switzerland, Argentina, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Uruguay and the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) bloc, which comprises Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Current exports to these markets total roughly NZ$1.8 billion (US$1.03 billion). The party groups the targets into three categories: high-value European economies, large South American markets and fast-growing economies in Asia and Africa.

A second phase would extend negotiations over the following decade to South Africa, Türkiye, Colombia, Morocco, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Together, the two phases would cover markets representing nearly one billion people, McClay said.

The party pointed to its recently concluded free trade agreement with India as proof of its ability to deliver deals. Luxon added that National has already completed 23 trade missions to 18 countries, generating more than NZ$2 billion in commercial deals, contracts and commitments.

In addition to new market-access talks, the party promised to pursue agreements on essential supplies modelled on the existing New Zealand–Singapore arrangement and to accelerate paperless trade and digital customs systems. These steps, it said, would cut non-tariff barriers and make supply chains more resilient.