“I shared it with the team and we quite enjoyed it, but the innovation part of Switzerland when it comes to chocolate is the milk chocolate, and I’m a keen fan of Swiss milk chocolate, and if it has some hazelnut in it, even better.”
Asked if there’d be a market for New Zealand-produced chocolate in Switzerland, she doubted it.
“I don’t want to hurt your feelings. Many, many years ago, New Zealanders didn’t want us to sell the chocolate overseas. But luckily, we’ll share it with everyone in the world.”
It’s so far only a promise for trade negotiators to sit down and have preliminary discussions about a deal.
But Artieda also firmly ruled out dairy being part of any deal.
McLay denied that would make it harder.
“We haven’t started negotiation, nor should we be trying to negotiate anything together in front of the New Zealand media. Today we’re announcing that we are starting a process of engagement and negotiation,” he said.
“Officials will get together, they’ll do some scoping for us, but you have two countries that are like-minded, that like to respect the rules, they’re saying we think there could be some opportunities for us to broaden that out and give certainty to our exporters at a time when all over the world there are barriers going up.
“We’re looking to reduce those barriers but, as with our negotiations with India, we won’t be doing it in the media.”
Kiwifruit and other fruit products were attractive to Switzerland.
Two-way trade between the two countries is almost $1.9 billion.
Officials will meet in September and report back next year, but the pair hoped talks could progress quickly, despite the clear sticking points.
“Our trade with the European Union and the UK is growing very quickly because of our free trade agreements,” McLay said.
“It means that New Zealand companies are investing effort and capital in those markets and therefore it’s very, very close to Switzerland as well.
“The New Zealand companies are already starting to establish themselves in Europe, it makes a lot of sense for us to look at one of the wealthiest and most significantly economically, technology developed economies.”
The FIT meeting is the biggest to be held in New Zealand in two decades. Formalities kicked off with a powhiri this morning.
Ten trade ministers and about 100 delegates representing 21 countries have jetted into Auckland.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon signed a food and fuel deal in Singapore in May.
McClay told the Herald that the Singapore deal would officially be ratified and come into force today.
Arteida hinted she’d like to see a similar deal, with Switzerland growing increasingly concerned about food security.
“Switzerland has been surrounded by two world wars, and, we cherish what the Swiss farmers are actually doing when it comes to the food security.
“So Switzerland, and I think our colleagues from New Zealand are well aware that agricultural is a very sensitive topic.
“We always felt that we were to a certain extent having a certain security because we’re part of Europe as a continent, but as it stands, I think after Covid we have also understood that we have to multiply our efforts and explore new partnerships and that’s why I think the Singapore New Zealand agreement on economic security is something that you’re hopefully going to bring into the partnership, and Switzerland will certainly have a very interested look at it.”
A deal with Switzerland is part of National’s pledge to kick off trade deals with seven new countries across five continents if re-elected.
Further agreements around reducing non-tariff barriers and increasing paperless trade are expected to be signed as part of the meeting.
Katie Bradford is a Senior Correspondent at the Herald. She has been a broadcast journalist for over 20 years and was based in the press gallery for 10 years. She specialises in politics, business and Auckland issues.