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New Zealand begins this week the negotiation of a free trade agreement with the EU in Brussels, despite the chaos caused by the Brexit in London.
More than 20 New Zealand officials work at the EU headquarters. FTA, officially launched a month ago in Wellington by European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom and New Zealand Trade Minister David Parker.
Their declared goal was a complete FTA in the 21st century, including a 50% increase in trade, higher wages for NZs, and tariff reductions for our producers.
Malstrom and Parker welcome the continuation of the talks and waxed lyrical about what an FTA could do for both parties. However, Malstrom has freely acknowledged that the negotiations will have their moments, especially on the issue of agriculture.
Disturbing issues such as tariff quotas on meat and geographical indications will be on the agenda. Negotiators will probably deal with easy problems early and leave sticky issues later. This week's discussions are the first round; the signing of the agreement should take two years
Both parties have prepared detailed documents and the general scope and the framework of the negotiations were known to both groups of officials for a few months.
The next cycle will be held at NZ later in the year.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Teresa May's attempt to agree on an exit plan from the EU has turned into a political nightmare, with two high-level resignations and deaths. criticisms from the conservative rearguard.
Some commentators see it as the worst crisis in British politics since the Second World War.
May was looking for a "sweet Brexit" – code for "we can leave the EU while enjoying many benefits of the EU Customs Union" . A key element in this area is to obtain a "soft" border between Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom) and the Republic of Ireland.
The current May proposal is similar to those presented by EU negotiators and unacceptable.
"We are going to shake up the EU rules for Ireland, but do not think for a moment that we are going to unravel the single market for a UK that is leaving," the negotiator recently said. Chief of the EU, Michel Barnier. Despite all the shenanigans in London, New Zealand trade officials do not think it will interfere in any way with our FTA negotiations in Brussels this week. EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom recently gave a similar guarantee to Wellington
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