European Union (EU) and New Zealand announced on Thursday that they have finalized the details of a free trade agreement that promises to boost trade by 30% and raise concerns among European manufacturers.
“This is a historic moment in our cooperation (…). This is a solid and modern commercial agreement. It opens up great opportunities for our companies, our farmers and consumers,” said the President of the European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen.
The official stressed that the EU “is already New Zealand’s third largest trading partner. And with this agreement, we will be able to increase trade between the two of us by 30%.”
“This is a big step. Our farmers on both sides will benefit,” he added.
It is this aspect of the agreement that has raised concern among European farmers.
“Farmers on both sides will benefit…because we will work together towards sustainable food systems. We will work together on animal welfare, on feed and fertilizer, on reducing the use of pesticides,” said von der Leyen.
For her part, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the successful conclusion of the talks was “a positive outcome for both New Zealand and the EU.”
For Ardern, the agreement, which was announced this Thursday, “represents the best business opportunity for our exporters, both small and large.”
He added that this understanding “will bring real business benefits at a time when our economy is recovering from Covid and coping with the economic shocks and instability of war.”
European farmers
In an official statement European Commission He noted that the agreement reached “takes into account the interests of producers of sensitive EU agricultural products” such as dairy products, beef and lamb, ethanol and corn.
For these sectors, the deal will allow zero-tariff imports from New Zealand “only in limited quantities,” the note said.
The statement also emphasizes that “EU agricultural producers will have more opportunities to sell their products in New Zealand immediately after the implementation of the agreement.”
In France, organizations representing beef and dairy producers have expressed dismay at “the arrival of several thousand tons of products (…) without being required to meet our agricultural production standards.”
These organizations mentioned in particular the use of herbicides and pesticides, which are not allowed in the EU but are still used in New Zealand.
The EU promised to implement a system of “tight controls” and ensured that all imported food “would comply with the rules” of the bloc.
The text of the agreement will now go through a full review to ensure that it complies with legal regulations in both the EU and New Zealand, and will be translated into all of the bloc’s official languages before being submitted to the European Council. .
The EU is currently negotiating possible free trade agreements with India, Indonesia and Australia. The officially announced agreement with MERCOSUR has not yet been ratified by a group of European countries.
Following the announcement ceremony, European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said negotiations with Chile and Mexico were ongoing.
Regarding Chile, the official said the commission was looking forward to contacts “with the new government” of Gabriel Borich, “and we are moving towards the next steps.”
In the meantime, he added, “we are discussing with the Mexican authorities the legal structure for ratification” of the agreement between the parties.
(AFP)
Source: RPP
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.