UK-New Zealand Trade Negotiations

The UK signed a trade deal with New Zealand in February 2022, and this deal entered into force in May 2023. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has analysed the deal and noted the limited (although positive) likely GDP impact of the deal. The Committee has raised particular concerns over the effects of the trade agreement on the UK’s agricultural sector, where eventual plans for tariff-free access for red meat produced in New Zealand will have the potential to undercut UK based producers.

It should be noted that in the recent trade agreement forged between the EU and New Zealand, the EU secured far better terms on market access for red meat from New Zealand, a condition that now offers greater hope for EU farmers that they will not be undercut by one of the largest lamb producers in the world. UK farmers do not have this consolation.

There are no environmental red lines in the trade agreement either.

The UK Trade and Business Commission will take evidence on the UK’s trade discussions with New Zealand in a future meeting.

UK-New Zealand Trade News

Featured
Australia and New Zealand trade deals are nothing to celebrate
Australia and New Zealand trade deals are nothing to celebrate

Responding to confirmation that the new Australia and New Zealand trade deals will come into effect this month, Layla Moran MP, member of the cross-party UK Trade and Business Commission, said

Read More →
NZ trade agreement to be formally laid tomorrow
NZ trade agreement to be formally laid tomorrow

Responding to news that the UK’s trade deal with New Zealand will be formally laid in Parliament on 27th October, MP for Brighton Pavilion and UK Trade and Business Commissioner Caroline Lucas said,

Read More →
Replacing lost EU trade could almost double UK shipping emissions
Replacing lost EU trade could almost double UK shipping emissions

New analysis shows that replacing the EU trade lost since 2018 with trade from other countries could increase annual emissions from shipping to and from the UK by 88%.

Read More →

Relevant Sessions

Featured
What is the FTA programme delivering so far?
What is the FTA programme delivering so far?

The UK government had announced the completion of two entirely new Free Trade Agreements, with Australia and New Zealand by the time of this meeting, and there has been the suggestion it may complete others including joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Protecting UK Manufacturing in a global supply chain
Protecting UK Manufacturing in a global supply chain

The UK is a major manufacturing power in the world, with particular strengths in cars, engineering products and aerospace among others. That these no longer employ such large numbers predominantly reflects higher productivity, and has been seen in all developed countries.

COP26: Updating Trade for the Climate Crisis
COP26: Updating Trade for the Climate Crisis

This session of the Trade and Business Commission looked at the transition to a green economy, and the role of trade policy in this ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow, as these topics saw growing domestic and international attention.