Committees

UK-New Zealand trade negotiations inquiry reopened by Lords committee

15 March 2022

Following the publication of the text of the signed UK-New Zealand trade agreement, the House of Lords International Agreements Committee has reopened its inquiry into the negotiations.

The committee is interested in submissions on all aspects of the agreement, but in particular wishes to hear to what extent it meets the Government’s stated negotiating objectives; how it will affect consumers and businesses; and the likely economic, social, environmental and other impacts.

The Committee invites interested organisations and individuals to submit written evidence to the inquiry by 5pm on Thursday 7 April.

On Thursday 17 March the committee will hold its first evidence session for the relaunched inquiry, where it will quiz experts on key trade-offs in the Agreement and look at other key areas such as the phasing out of import tariffs on meat, the agreement’s environmental commitments, provisions on services and regulatory barriers to trade.

The session will take place at 11:00am and can be followed on Parliament TV.

Witnesses

  • Michael Gasiorek, Director of the UK Trade Policy Observatory (UKTPO), University of Sussex
  • Sam Lowe, Director, Flint Global

Baroness Hayter, Chair of the International Agreements Committee said:

“As the trade negotiations between the UK and New Zealand have now drawn to a close, we again encourage a wide range of people to come forward and share their views.

“My committee has been doing its utmost to hold Government to account on this deal and would like to thank all those from across society who have already submitted evidence. We look forward to receiving a wide range of views on the completed deal, to help judge whether it does meet the objectives the Government set itself, and to enable us to advise Parliament on the treaty prior to its ratification.”

 Further information