Putin should have seen it coming – our Govt announces further trade bans and sanctions to squeeze the Russian economy

Buzz from the Beehive

A further slew of trade bans and sanctions has been announced by the Government to put further pressure on the Putin regime and the Russian economy as part of the Government’s ongoing response to the war and illegal annexations.

Here’s hoping we have not run out of things to sanction.  And especially we hope we can respond appropriately to punish Putin if – or should we say when? – he carries out his threat to use nuclear weapons.  

The latest measures are

• New sanctions and trade bans on Russia and Belarus in response to Putin’s attempts to illegally annex parts of Ukraine
• Sanctions target 51 oligarchs including New Zealand-linked Alexander Abramov and 24 Russian-backed office holders in annexed areas of Ukraine
• New bans on exports and imports of luxury goods like NZ wine and seafood and Russian vodka and caviar, as well as strategically important products like oil, gas and related production equipment
• Extension of 35% tariff on Russian imports till March 2025
• New Zealand condemns Russia’s overnight missile strikes on civilians

This punitive action has been announced on the Beehive website along with news that our ministers are…

Buzz from the Beehive – or (unwittingly) is the way being paved for booze in schools to boost kids’ health and wellbeing?

The news from the Beehive has been mixed on the trade front – greater trade liberalisation with China was welcomed by Trade Minister Damien O’Connor but was countered by his announcement (alongside Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta) of significant new sanctions against Russia.

It’s a good thing our trade with China is much greater than our trade with Russia.

But the government’s general inclination to regulate rather than liberalise is reflected in its signalling a Nanny State crackdown on what our kids can drink.

It has opened a public consultation on a proposal for primary schools to offer only “healthy” drinks.  We trust they know what they are doing with this one.

We say this because alcoholic drinks are good for our health, according to some websites checked out by Point of Order. Consumption must be moderate, true, but that should apply to whatever our kids eat and drink.

Hence we look forward to our toddlers toasting each other with a cheery “good health” before they sink their daily toddies.