EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement negotiations

Summary:

Information Guide focusing on the negotiations carried out between New Zealand and the European Union (EU) on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Further information:

The Joint Statement of 29 October 2015 by the leaders of the EU and New Zealand committed to start the process for negotiations to achieve a deep and comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, following the successful conclusion of negotiations for a bilateral Partnership Agreement on Relations and Cooperation.

In September 2017, the European Commission adopted a Recommendation for a Council Decision on launching FTA talk with New Zealand. The objective of this proposal was to create more favourable conditions for further increasing trade and investment between the EU and New Zealand. The adoption of this Recommendation coincided with the 2017 State of the Union address and was announced in the context of a Communication on Trade Policy. The European Parliament's plenary session approved a resolution on 26 October setting its guidelines on the negotiating mandate to be issued by the Council of the European Union. The Council of the European Union adopted the negotiating directives on 22 May. The negotiations were launched on 21 June 2018.

Talks took place over 12 negotiating rounds, the last of which was held in March 2022. Following a number of intersessional discussions, the talks for the trade agreement were formally concluded on 30 June 2022.

Commentary and Analysis

London School of Economics (LSE): Ex-ante Study of the EU-Australia and EU-New Zealand Trade and Investment Agreements (April 2017) https://www.lse.ac.uk/business/consulting/reports/ex-ante-study-of-the-eu-australia-and-eu-new-zealand-trade-and-investment-agreements

EPRS: Briefing, October 2017: International Agreements in Progress: EU-New Zealand free trade agreement - All set for the launch of negotiations https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2017)608755

EPRS: At a Glance, October 2017: FTA talks with Australia and New Zealand https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2017)608772

EUObserver: Opinion, 30/10/2017: Going south? EU and Australia/New Zealand deal https://euobserver.com/opinion/139699

EPRS: Briefing, February 2018: EU free trade agreement with Australia and New Zealand - Initial Appraisal of a European Commission Impact Assessment https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2018)615648

Radio New Zealand: Opinion, 24/05/2018: EU-NZ trade deal a bright spot in gloomy times https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/358156/eu-nz-trade-deal-a-bright-spot-in-gloomy-times

EPRS: At a Glance, June 2018: FTA negotiations to start with Australia and New Zealand https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2018)623539

EPRS: Study, May 2019: Trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EXPO_STU(2019)603479

The Conversation, 04/09/2019: Agriculture a likely stumbling block in free trade negotiations between NZ and EU https://theconversation.com/agriculture-a-likely-stumbling-block-in-free-trade-negotiations-between-nz-and-eu-107704

London School of Economics (LSE): Brexit Blog, 10/09/2019: Does New Zealand provide Brexit lessons for Britain? https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2019/09/10/does-new-zealand-provide-brexit-lessons-for-britain/

BKP Economic Advisors: Sustainability Impact Assessment in support of the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Negotiations (March 2020) http://trade-sia-new-zealand.eu/en/

EPRS: At a Glance, November 2020: State of play of EU–New Zealand FTA talks https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2020)659342

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News

EurActiv, 29/10/2015: EU, New Zealand launch free trade talks https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-new-zealand-launch-free-trade-talks/

The New Zealand Herald, 29/10/2015: John Key: Negotiation tactics with EU likely to be more transparent https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/john-key-negotiation-tactics-with-eu-likely-to-be-more-transparent/YTHAFPVU64X4W3ZXHAXFRGSGT4/

Radio New Zealand, 30/10/2015: Talks underway for EU-NZ free trade pact https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/288381/talks-underway-for-eu-nz-free-trade-pact

Independent (UK), 09/01/2017: New Zealand should scrap EU agricultural talks in favour of trade with post-Brexit Britain, says Kiwi MP https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/new-zealand-scrap-eu-agricultural-talks-trade-post-brexit-britain-kiwi-mp-fletcher-tabuteau-a7517866.html

Politico, 09/01/2017: EU-New Zealand trade deal in ‘deep trouble’ https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-new-zealand-trade-deal-in-deep-trouble/

EurActiv, 11/01/2017: EU, New Zealand seek swift trade talks https://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/eu-new-zealand-seek-swift-start-to-trade-talks-and-rapid-end/

Radio New Zealand, 11/01/2017: Bill English talks free trade with EU President https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/322166/bill-english-talks-free-trade-with-eu-president

The New Zealand Herald, 11/01/2017: NZ to benefit from Trump/Brexit? https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/nz-to-benefit-from-trumpbrexit/UCKSESGC3E2RC7XVWXIT45VKFY/

EurActiv, 16/01/2017: New Zealand PM pushes for quick start to EU trade talks https://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/new-zealand-pm-pushes-for-quick-start-to-eu-trade-talks/

Radio New Zealand, 29/10/2017: EU trade deal presents wide-ranging benefits - trade analyst https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/342605/eu-trade-deal-presents-wide-ranging-benefits-trade-analyst

Independent (UK), 22/05/2018: EU plans to trade ‘much’ more with Australia and New Zealand after Brexit https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/brexit-trade-deal-eu-australia-new-zealand-european-parliament-vote-meps-a8020716.html

The Guardian, 22/05/2018: EU talks with Australia and New Zealand deal blow to UK free trade plans https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/22/eu-trade-talks-australia-new-zealand-brexit-commonwealth

European Commission: Press Release, 21/06/2018: EU and New Zealand launch trade negotiations https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_18_4165

Reuters, 30/06/2022: EU, New Zealand seal free trade deal in "geopolitical signal" https://www.reuters.com/markets/eu-new-zealand-conclude-negotiations-trade-deal-eus-von-der-leyen-2022-06-30/

The New Zealand Herald, 30/06/2022: New Zealand wins $1.8b trade deal with EU at eleventh hour https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/new-zealand-wins-18b-trade-deal-with-eu-at-eleventh-hour/JMOMOJUUSR3RT2T27YWACDOFY4/

Euronews, 30/06/2022: 'Historic moment': EU and New Zealand strike trade deal with climate and gender equality provisions https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/06/30/historic-moment-eu-and-new-zealand-strike-trade-deal-with-climate-and-gender-equality-prov

EurActiv, 30/06/2022: EU and New Zealand conclude negotiations on free trade agreement https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/eu-and-new-zealand-sign-free-trade-agreement/

Le Monde, 30/06/2022: EU and New Zealand seal major free trade deal https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/06/30/eu-and-new-zealand-seal-major-free-trade-deal_5988533_4.html

Politico, 30/06/2022: EU and New Zealand seal trade deal with tougher new green rules https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-new-zealand-deal-standard-greener-trade/

Radio New Zealand, 01/07/2022: New Zealand and European Union secure historic free trade deal https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/470119/new-zealand-and-european-union-secure-historic-free-trade-deal

Radio New Zealand, 01/07/2022: Meat and dairy industries very disappointed with New Zealand European Union trade deal https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/470141/meat-and-dairy-industries-very-disappointed-with-new-zealand-european-union-trade-deal

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Official

EU EEAS: Relations with the EU: The European Union and Aotearoa New Zealand https://www.eeas.europa.eu/new-zealand/european-union-and-aotearoa-new-zealand_en?s=173

European Commission: EU trade relations: New Zealand https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/new-zealand_en

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade: European Union https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/europe/european-union/

European Commission: The EU-New Zealand trade agreement https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/new-zealand/eu-new-zealand-agreement_en

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade:: New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-concluded-but-not-in-force/new-zealand-european-union-free-trade-agreement/

European Commission: Statement of the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission and the New Zealand Prime Minister (29 October 2015) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_15_5947

EUR-LEX: COM(2017)469: Recommendation for a Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2017:469:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2017)289: Staff Working Document accompanying COM(2017)469 - Impact Assessment http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2017:289:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2017)290: Staff Working Document accompanying COM(2017)469 - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2017:290:FIN

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Recommendation to the Council on the proposed negotiating mandate for trade negotiations with New Zealand (2017/2193(INI)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2017/2193(INI)

European Parliament: Legislative Train Schedule: EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-a-balanced-and-progressive-trade-policy-to-harness-globalisation/file-eu-new-zealand-fta

European Parliament: Press Release, 26/10/2017: Parliament sets guidelines for trade talks with Australia and New Zealand https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20171020IPR86554/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 22/05/2018: Council gives the go-ahead to trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/05/22/council-gives-the-go-ahead-to-trade-negotiations-with-australia-and-new-zealand/

European Commission: Press Release, 22/05/2018: Commission welcomes green light to start trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_18_3881

UK Government: We support EU’s trade negotiations as well as our own - Opinion editorial by Greg Hands, Minister of State for Trade Policy (May 2018) https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/we-support-eus-trade-negotiations-as-well-as-our-own

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 25/06/2018: Trade with Australia and New Zealand: negotiating directives made public https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/25/trade-with-australia-and-new-zealand-negotiating-directives-made-public/

Greens/EFA EP Group: Study, 12/07/2021: Seeking progress towards climate-supportive trade. The EU-NZ FTA negotiations https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/document/seeking-progress-towards-climate-supportive-trade

European Commission: Press Release, 30/06/2022: EU – New Zealand Trade Agreement: Unlocking sustainable economic growth https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_4158

European Commission: Joint media release on the occasion of the meeting between European Commission President von der Leyen and New Zealand's Prime Minister Ardern (30 June 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_22_4249

European Commission: Trade News, 30/06/2022: Key elements of the EU-New Zealand trade agreement https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/news/key-elements-eu-new-zealand-trade-agreement-2022-06-30_en

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen with New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern (30 June 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_22_4229

European Commission: Remarks by Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis at the press point on the EU – New Zealand Trade Agreement (30 June 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_4248

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