Our Audience

Like me, you have probably wondered who else is reading this blog.   Well it is interesting to look at and study the Pageviews by countries statistics.   In a recent month which I have analysed, 31.3% of pageviews were from the United States, and this is consistent with the month just passed as well.  Thank you to all those Americans who read Exportersblog - it's great to know that you are looking at the posts even if you feel you cannot comment.   However if you want to share comments from a US point of view, that would be great as it would add some zest to the blog I'm sure.

In the month from mid-January to mid-February, Dutch readers were the second largest group by pageview, followed by New Zealanders.   For the month just passed, those places were reversed.

It is obvious that pageview statistics will be influenced by the subject matter of each post and there have been a few posts on the TPP trade agreement negotiations which may have attracted US readers.   Canadians did not seem to be picking up on the blog at all.

Pageviews by readers from countries where English is not the first language were a staggering 47.5% in the month I analysed.   Of course English may be the language of business in those countries.

Readers' comments may have given us some idea of our readership, but like other blogs which I look at, it seems that people are content to read rather than leave comments.   If the Exportersblog  gives you information or even makes you think, then it is fulfilling its goals.   That said, more comments would be always be welcomed and appreciated.  Commenting is easy - there are instructions on the left hand side of this post.

American Trade Policy & Strategy

Here is the link to the text of President Obama's State of the Union address in which he launched the NEI (National Export Initiative).   See page 4 in particular.   From a New Zealand point of view there are concerns that this may lead to more protectionist policies by the US.

The second link is to a video clip featuring the Presidents speech.
ttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/us/politics/28obama.text.html?pagewanted=4  State of the Union address p.4

http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/blog/2010/january/president-obama-lays-out-export-initiative-create-jobs

At least the US has a strategy which is more than can be said for New Zealand !

What are your views on free trade negotiations between P4 and the US?

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs is looking for submissions on the upcoming free trade negotiations between the US and the four member countries of P4 - the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (New Zealand, Brunei, Chile and Singapore).

The existing agreement proposes the complete removal of traiffs on trade between the four partner countries by 2017. The US is now considering whether it will join in the agreement and begin to phase out tariffs for products from the P4 countries.

While the focus has been mostly on the potential removal of the significant barriers New Zealand faces on its agricultural exports to the US, there is also potential for gains for exporters of manufactured products and services.

Submissions can be made directly to the Ministry by Monday 8 December and should be sent to:

Email: ftp4@mfat.govt.nz
Post: Trans-Pacific Agreement Submissions
FTP4
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Private Bag 18901
Wellington

Or you can fill out the online submission form at:

www.mfat.govt.nz/Trade-and-Economic-Relations/Trade-Agreements/Trans-pacific/Forms/submission-form.php