On 19 November 2004, Helen Clark and President of the People's Republic of China, Hu Jintao announced the commencement of negotiations towards an FTA at the APEC Leaders meeting in Santiago, Chile.
[2] The deal was welcomed by a number of New Zealand exporters including the dairy cooperative Fonterra and the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council, while others such as the appliance manufacturer Fisher & Paykel stated that the deal would lead to tougher competition with cheaper-priced Chinese products.
[10][11] Members of the Green Party protested against the signing of the deal, with Keith Locke saying that easier access to a cheap Chinese workforce could undermine New Zealand workers.
[13] Public opinion was divided at the time; a poll published a week before the signing showed 45% supported the deal, while 32% opposed it.
[20] Following the upgrade protocol, on 1 January 2024, tariffs were lifted on all New Zealand dairy imports including milk powder to China as part of the NZ-China free trade agreement.
[17] This development was welcomed by Minister of Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay, who estimated it would bring NZ$330 million worth of revenue to the New Zealand economy.