We are now one step closer to an ambitious,
wide-ranging free trade agreement with one of our
oldest friends. An FTA with New Zealand can bring
investment, better jobs, higher wages and more
affordable prices just when we need them the most. Both
teams of negotiators recognised the unprecedented
circumstances we find ourselves in and reiterated that
more global trade is essential to support post-Covid
economic recovery. Negotiations were conducted
virtually and covered a comprehensive set of
discussions across areas of a trade agreement.
The discussions covered:
- Anti-Corruption
- Clean Growth
- Competition
- Cross-cutting general provisions
- Customs
- Digital trade
- Domestic Regional Economic Development
- Environment
- Financial Services
- Trade in Goods and Trade Remedies
- Good Regulatory Practice
- Indigenous Trade
- Intellectual Property
- Investment
- Labour
- Procurement
- Rules of Origin
- Services, including Mobility
- Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
- State Owned Enterprises
- Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
- State to State Dispute Settlement
- Technical Barriers to Trade
- Telecommunications
- Trade and Development
- Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment
- Transparency
Discussions between negotiators were productive and
reflected our shared ambition to secure a comprehensive
deal to boost trade and investment between our
like-minded economies. Teams discussed their respective
objectives and agreed a forward plan for future talks.
Our positive discussions in round one have laid the
groundwork for the UK and New Zealand to achieve
high-quality outcomes across the agreement.
The UK and New Zealand are aligned in many areas which
will enable us to make quick progress across many
chapters. In discussions, both countries emphasised a
desire to be particularly ambitious in areas including
enhancing digital trade, boosting cross-border trade in
services and investment, reducing uncertainty and
burdens on exporters from customs procedures, and
promoting good regulatory practices. Discussions also
provided an opportunity for both teams to consider how
we can work together across the agreement to support
important agendas such as women’s economic empowerment,
trade and development, indigenous trade, clean growth
and climate action, and ensuring Small and Medium sized
Enterprises can benefit from the FTA.
The Government is committed to negotiating a
comprehensive agreement with New Zealand and we look
forward to making further progress. The Government will
make its next statement on progress following the
second round of talks, which is currently planned to
take place in October. We will explore the option of
face-to-face negotiations when it is safe to do so.
