One year after their launch, talks to clinch two free trade agreements, with Australia and New Zealand respectively, are continuing on track.
Completion of a fourth round with Australia
The fourth round of negotiations of the comprehensive trade agreement between the EU and its Australian partner, which took place from 1 to 5 July 2019 in Brussels, meant that detailed discussions took place in 18 different working groups regarding the text proposals already on the table and covering all chapters of the negotiations, confirmed a Commission source to EUROPE (see EUROPE 12239/29, 12043/19).
“The agreement will contribute to shaping global trade and ensuring sustainable development”, said the same source, noting that the objective of these discussions was to remove barriers to trade in goods and services, offer opportunities, particularly for smaller companies, and put in place ambitious rules in line with the EU's other trade agreements.
In advance of the fifth round, which will take place in mid-October in Canberra, the EU will publish its list of geographical indications for the purposes of opposition for Australia; a first exchange of market access offers for goods is also planned.
New Zealand: a fifth round in progress
The pace of talks with New Zealand is even greater: since their launch a year ago, the EU and Wellington are in their fifth round of negotiations, taking place from 8 to 12 July in Brussels.
Discussions will cover most areas of the future agreement, including goods, services and investment, and public procurement in which market access offers have been exchanged, according to a Commission source. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)