The Government's refresh of its trade policy will include an increased focus on resolving non-tariff barriers (NTBs), Trade Minister and Rotorua MP Todd McClay told international and local experts at the DANA NZ Forest-Wood Products conference in Rotorua on Monday.
"The government is well aware of the concerns from industry and is committed to addressing NTBs," he said in his keynote speech (see accompanying story).
DANA director and conference convenor Dennis Neilson said the gathering of high-profile Russian, Chinese, American and NZ speakers and delegates was unprecedented and included government officials, forest investors and executives from global competitors and markets for New Zealand wood products.
"We are delighted to have been able to attract so many senior and respected speakers to this year's meeting," he said.
This year's conference included an intensive field trip to leading regional forest products companies.