New Zealand warns of supply chain disruption risks from Middle East conflict

Wellington — New Zealand’s Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has warned of the risks of global supply chain disruption caused by Middle East conflict at a Future Investment and Trade (FIT) Partnership meeting held on Monday, 16 March local time.

“We see an opportunity for FIT partners to demonstrate our shared commitment to keeping supply chains open and resilient, working together to share real-time information and coordinate our collective response when supply chains are disrupted,” McClay said, according to a government statement released on Tuesday.

The virtual meeting agreed on a ministerial declaration on strengthening the rules-based trading system.

“Measures such as export restrictions and large-scale hoarding could worsen the economic impact,” McClay said.

He emphasised that maintaining open trade corridors, including through air and sea transport, is in the shared interest of FIT partners to ensure the smooth flow of fuel and other essential goods.

McClay described the meeting as an opportunity for New Zealand to discuss risks of global supply disruption and to raise issues such as fuel supply chain challenges with other small and medium-sized countries that depend on trade.

FIT was launched in September 2025 with 16 small and medium-sized trade-dependent countries as members. New Zealand will host the next FIT ministerial meeting in Auckland in July 2026.