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Representing 27 member states and 500 million people, the EU is the world’s largest economic entity. The EU is a vitally important market for New Zealand, second only to Australia in importance as a market for New Zealand goods. Two-way trade is approximately NZ$12 billion annually.
Recognising the significance of the bilateral trading relationship, the EU and New Zealand hold formal trade talks every year to take stock of the trade and economic relationship and identify opportunities for developing new strands in our relationship. The last round of talks, held in Wellington in late February 2010, was co-chaired by Peter Hamilton, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Mauro Petriccione (Director of Bilateral Trade Relations for the European Commission’s Trade Directorate-General).
As an extra initiative to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the EU, this year’s annual trade talks were followed by an EU-NZ Trade Conference: “Creating Opportunities in Markets”, in Auckland. The conference was opened by the Minister of Trade, Hon Tim Groser, and brought together leading European and New Zealand political and business leaders to discuss opportunities and solutions for growing New Zealand’s economic footprint in Europe, and included case studies on businesses that are successfully building commercial relations between New Zealand and Europe, such as Siemens, Jade Software and Navman Wireless.
Mauro Pettricione, Director of Bilateral Trade Relations for the European Commission’s Trade Directorate-General, addressing the EU-NZ Trade Conference in Auckland, 23 February 2010.Read our European Union information paper.
