The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, led an official mission to the Southern Cone that included Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, with the aim of deepening political, commercial, and cooperative ties with the region. The tour also included a visit to Rapa Nui, highlighted as a milestone in New Zealand’s projection toward Latin America.
In Argentina, the agenda focused on the expansion of bilateral trade and the identification of opportunities in agro-industrial, energy, and innovation sectors, together with the strengthening of economic dialogue.
In Brazil, progress was made on concrete initiatives related to market access and agricultural cooperation, including the authorization of new products and the strengthening of sanitary dialogue, as well as the adoption of instruments to expand trade and investment.
In Chile, authorities highlighted convergence in international trade matters and support for the multilateral system, together with the deepening of ties in areas such as energy transition and ocean cooperation.
In Uruguay, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to rules-based trade and cooperation in areas such as sustainable agriculture and climate change. Uruguay also expressed its interest in joining the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement and the Global Trade and Gender Arrangement, initiatives promoted by New Zealand that seek to advance the digital economy and gender inclusion in international trade.
Taken together, the tour reflects an active strategy by New Zealand to strengthen its presence in Latin America and deepen coordination with the Southern Cone, in a context where trade, regulatory standards, and technical cooperation are gaining increasing relevance in links with the Asia-Pacific.
