Trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand: Commission releases first negotiating proposals

As part of its ongoing transparency efforts, the Commission has today published reports from the first rounds of trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand, as well as a set of EU text proposals covering 12 negotiating areas presented so far in the talks with Australia and 11 areas presented so far to New Zealand.

Officials from the EU and Australia met in Brussels from 2 to 6 July 2018 for the first round of trade negotiations. Discussions were held in a very good and constructive atmosphere and demonstrated a shared commitment to negotiate an ambitious and comprehensive agreement. 17 working groups met covering almost all areas of the future trade agreement. The next round of talks is scheduled for November in Australia. The first round of negotiations for a trade agreement between the EU and New Zealand was held from 16 to 20 July 2018, also in Brussels. The discussions confirmed a high degree of coherence in both sides’ views in most of the negotiating areas. The next round will be held in New Zealand in autumn. For more information see the webpages on EU-Australia and EU-New-Zealand talks.