New Zealand’s Trade Minister Damien O’Connor has indicated the Ardern government will join Australia’s dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against China. The backing from New Zealand (NZ) came on the eve of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s visit to the country for high-level talks on a range of issues including a quarantine-free travel zone between the two countries, re-engagement with the Pacific in the wake of COVID-19, and China. O’Connor told local media, “New Zealand is participating in this dispute as a third party because it raises systemic issues of importance to the effective functioning of the multilateral rules-based trading system.” “New Zealand was not asked to join as a third party,” he added. “However, we have been a third party in over 60 WTO cases since 1995, and it is not unusual for us to join actions and disputes when we see challenges to international trade rules.” …