EU/New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

The Committee on International Trade adopted the report by Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the free trade agreement between the European Union and New Zealand.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.

The Agreement, which will be signed on 9 July 2023, will play a key role in strengthening the Union's position, role and relevance in the Indo-Pacific region. It contributes to the Union's objective of building a network of trade agreements in the region, following the agreements negotiated with Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam.

The Agreement:

- protects 163 European foodstuff geographical indications (GIs) and the complete list of EU GI wines and spirits;

- provides a high level of tariff liberalisation amounting to 100% of New Zealand tariff lines to be liberalised upon entry into force;

- encompasses a dedicated chapter on Māori trade and economic cooperation, a standalone chapter on digital trade and a dedicated chapter on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

As the first of its kind, the Agreement incorporates the new EU approach on trade and sustainable development, thereby ensuring the effective implementation of core standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Paris Agreement.