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New Zealand inks 'sustainable' trade handle Switzerland, Costa Rica and Iceland

New Zealand signed a trade offer on Saturday with Switzerland, Costa Rica and Iceland to eliminate tariffs on numerous sustainable goods and services, in a relocation Wellington says will boost the country's export sector.

The Arrangement on Climate Modification, Trade and Sustainability ( ACCTS) was signed at a ceremony during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Peru on Saturday after being struck in July, Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay stated in a statement.

This contract gets rid of tariffs on key exports including 45 wood and wool items-- 2 sectors that are crucial to achieving our goal of doubling New Zealand's exports by worth in 10 years, McClay said.

It will likewise lower expenses for customers, eliminating tariffs on numerous other items, including insulation materials, recycled paper, and energy-saving items such as LED lights and rechargeable batteries.

The deal prioritised New Zealand's sustainable exports, he said, amidst a roll back by the nation's centre-right federal government of ecological reforms in a quote to increase a flailing economy. Exports comprise nearly a quarter of New Zealand's economy.

(source: Reuters)