UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement
Sam Pass (The British Deputy High Commissioner to New Zealand)
On 21 October, and following just over a year of intensive negotiations, the United Kingdom and New Zealand announced that Agreement in Principle (AiP) had been reached on a UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA). As the AiP document shows, this is an exciting, ambitious, and comprehensive agreement, true to the spirit of the broader UK-New Zealand relationship. It will unlock a whole series of new opportunities for business and consumers in both countries, further strengthening the connections between us. There is still work to be done. Once the text has been finalised, legally verified, and domestic processes completed, arrangements will be made for signature. I appreciate that for many of you reading this article it will be what the deal means for the export of New Zealand’s agricultural product that will be of most interest. As expected, it was our negotiations on goods that proved to be particularly sensitive. UK negotiators recognised the need to reassure UK farmers and rural stakeholders that market access outcomes would not threaten sensitive sectors. Even allowing for this, we have been able to secure an outcome that delivers broad liberalisation on tariffs on a mutually beneficial basis.
There are ground-breaking commitments that reinforce our mutual commitments to tackle climate change through the Paris Agreement and our efforts to meet net zero emissions. There will be a specific chapter on animal welfare, recognising the importance that both the UK and New Zealand attach to this issue. It will also include a bespoke chapter on Indigenous Trade, recognising the unique and historic relationship between the UK and Māori, and our shared aspiration to strengthen our connections and co-operation in trade and business. Through various visits to farms and attendance at the National Agricultural Fieldays, I have seen during my time in New Zealand the strong connection New Zealanders have with the rural community. The New Zealand farming landscape is one that all New Zealanders can be proud of, exemplifying quality farming practices and products that are the hallmark of this country, and a strong tradition of innovation. Put simply, New Zealand farmers produce goods that Britons want.
The agreement will offer commercially meaningful access for New Zealand’s leading exporters at entry into force. Where there are product-specific safeguards, these are limited to particular UKsensitive products to allow UK farmers time to adjust. The agreement sets out a clear pathway to full quota liberalisation.
The UK and New Zealand can learn much from each other’s farming journey. This includes how to address the question of subsidy reform, land management and sustainability, overseas market access, and agritech exchange. The FTA is therefore just the beginning of, I hope, a new chapter of bilateral agricultural dialogue between the UK and New Zealand.
But of course the agreement is about much more than goods. It reflects our values as two like-minded democracies who believe in free trade, including provisions in areas such as the environment, development, and gender and labour.
These are exciting times for the UK-New Zealand relationship. (Sam Pass: British High Commision, Wellington) Follow us online: www.gov.uk/fcdo
British High Commissioner, Laura Clarke and her team at Fieldays 2021
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Goat & Sheep Milk NZ - Issue 4 | December 2021
