Saturday, 31 October 2015 10:14

FTA talks between NZ and EU

Written by 
New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser. New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser.

A free trade agreement could be on the cards for New Zealand and the EU, says the Delegation of the European Union to New Zealand.

Trade Minister, Tim Groser, met with EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmströmn, this week in Brussels to discuss the potential of a bilateral free trade agreement.

The meeting followed an announcement earlier by John Key, the European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and the European Council president Donald Tusk.

Key, Juncker and Tusk announced their shared commitment to engage in the process leading towards a high-quality free trade agreement.

Both sides agreed that the future deal should comprehensively address all of the issues concerning the current trade and investment relation.

The shared aim is to create rules that correspond to the reality of global supply chains and the increasing international interdependence in manufacturing and provision of services.

The future agreement would also promote transparency of rules, the fight against corruption and coherence between economic benefits, workers' rights and environmental protection.

Malmström, and Groser also used this opportunity to exchange views on the preparation for the upcoming 10th Ministerial Conference of the World Tarde Organisation (WTO) and the ongoing talks on a Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) in which both the EU and New Zealand participate.

More like this

Irish, NZ connection showcased

The Irish Minister of State for Rural Communities says his country and New Zealand face very similar challenges on a range of issues related to agriculture, including climate change, biodiversity and rural depopulation.

Editorial: Escaping Trump's wrath

OPINION: President Donald Trump's bizarre hard line approach to the world of what was once 'rules-based trade' has got New Zealand government officials, politicians and exporters on tenterhooks.

Featured

Pāmu farm opens gate to urban visitors

For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.

National

Machinery & Products

Alpego eyes electric power harrow

Distributed by OriginAg in New Zealand, Italian manufacturer Alpego recently showed its three metre Alysium electric power harrow at the…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Dodgy!

OPINION: If you believe Maori Party president John Tamihere’s claim that “nothing dodgy” occurred at Manurewa Marae during the last…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter