Handled with tact, FTAs can do what WTO can't

On April 7, China and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement (FTA) covering trade in goods and services as well as investment, making it the first FTA reached by China with a developed country.

During his visit to China last week, Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister, said that Australia and China would reopen their FTA negotiations soon.

After the 10th round of FTA negotiations between China and Australia ended in October last year, the two sides had not started the 11th round which was originally scheduled in the first half of 2008.