ExportNZ Trade & Advocacy Update May 2024

New Zealand’s free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) has entered into force. To realise the significant opportunities presented by this deal, New Zealand exporters of goods and services should familiarise themselves with all relevant EU laws and take steps to ensure their compliance.

Activity over the past month has been largely devoted to ensuring full utilisation of FTAs that have been negotiated rather than negotiating new ones. The one exception is the Gulf where work continues on both the GCC and UAE opportunities. Submissions on the UAE FTA are being analysed.

Foreign Minister Peters paid an important visit to India this month. The visit appears to have gone well and to have been appreciated by the Indian side. No specific outcomes were expected, particularly on the trade front.

One of the advantages of having Trade and Foreign Ministers who have occupied the portfolios
before is that they hit the ground running. Having visited WTO Headquarters in January Hon
Todd McClay is off to Abu Dhabi for the WTO Ministerial meeting, where he will also serve as
one of three Vice Chairs of the meeting

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