Li Qiang, New Zealand PM Luxon Discuss Trade, EV and Services Cooperation

The significance here is less the bilateral pleasantries than the sectors named: EVs, solar and wind, plus services trade. That points to a push beyond the traditional agricultural and dairy base of the relationship and toward China's export strengths in clean tech, which is exactly where other developed markets have raised barriers. New Zealand's posture will be worth watching, since it sits between its Five Eyes partners and its largest trading partner. Whether the negative-list services talks actually accelerate is the concrete test of whether this call changes anything.