UK trade deal 'tough to beat'

That's how Export Growth and Trade Minister, Damien O'Connor, described the deal when he spoke to Dairy News from London just after signing the deal last week with his counterpart, the UK's Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan.

O'Connor says the FTA is a "spectacular" agreement, which sees the phasing out of all tariffs on all NZ's core export goods and opens the door for services and all other areas of trade between the two countries.

"Primary producers should be very happy with this deal and the chances of taking up all of that free quota in the transitional period is probably low, and then beyond the phase-out period, we have unlimited access so it doesn't get much better than that," he says.

"It would be hard to think that we would get other FTA's to that standard, but we will keep trying," he says.

O'Connor says while the phase out periods might extend out for beef and sheepmeat, it's unlikely NZ will meet the initial thresholds. So effectively it's tariff free access into this market when the FTA comes into force - hopefully by the end of this year.

Part of the success of putting the deal together, says O'Connor, was due to the strong traditional links with the UK. Also their enthusiasm to be a part of CPTTP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) and to engage in the Pacific meant they were keen to get this deal over the line.

"My counterpart Anne-Marie Trevelyan has been an enthusiastic advocate and supporter of the deal. She sees the value of this and the UK reconnecting with the rest of the world, especially NZ and Australia, who are long-time loyal partners in many things."

Now to the EU

As Dairy News spoke to Damien O'Connor, he was heading off to Brussels to try and persuade the European Union to produce an equally good FTA.

He says while they are two separate agreements, obviously the EU one is much more complex, given the fact that it needs the approval of all 27 member states.

"But we are still hoping that like the UK they will have the enthusiasm to connect with likeminded countries in a challenging geopolitical world. And to have secure trade links with countries that share our aspiratons around climate change, reduction of emissions, animal welfare standards, labour standards. We hope that they see the value in connecting with us even though we are a relatively small player," he says.

O'Connor admits the Ukraine crisis may somewhat overshadow the FTA talks, but points out that even in times like these, other business still goes ahead as it has done through the Covid pandemic.

He says trade liberalisation is one way of solving some of the world's problems.