History of negotiations

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Timeline of negotiations

  • June 2018: Negotiations formally launched
  • July 2018: First round of negotiations, Brussels
  • October 2018: Second round of negotiations, Wellington
  • February 2019: Third round of negotiations, Brussels
  • May 2019: Fourth round of negotiations, Wellington
  • July 2019: Fifth round of negotiations, Brussels
  • December 2019: Sixth round of negotiations, Wellington
  • March-April 2020: Seventh round of negotiations (conducted virtually)
  • June 2020: Eighth round of negotiations (conducted virtually)
  • November 2020: Ninth round of negotiations (conducted virtually)
  • March 2021: Tenth round of negotiations (conducted virtually)
  • June-July 2021: Eleventh round of negotiations (conducted virtually)
  • March 2022: Twelfth round of negotiations (conducted virtually)

Scoping Summary

In March 2017 New Zealand and the European Union agreed the broad scope of negotiations. See more information in the document below.

Twelve formal rounds of negotiations were held between the launch of negotiations in July 2018 and substantively concluding the agreement in June 2022.

Round one

The first round of negotiations between New Zealand and the EU was held in Brussels from 16-20 July, 2018.

Watch lead negotiator Martin Harvey's video update on the first round.

Round 2

New Zealand hosted the second round of negotiations in Wellington from 8-12 October, 2018.

Negotiators were able to make further progress, building on work done in round one. More text was agreed in most areas of negotiations, and detailed discussions should allow us to make headway in areas where our views are not so closely aligned.

Work will continue between rounds to propose and agree text. We will also exchange further information and data about our respective systems to support this process.

Watch lead negotiator Martin Harvey's video update on the second round.

Round 3

Negotiations between the EU and New Zealand continue with the third round held from 18-22 February in Brussels. We are making good progress in many areas of the negotiations. Initial goods market access offers were exchanged in early February and negotiators have agreed to exchange offers on services, investment, and government procurement before the next round in May 2019.

Watch lead negotiator Martin Harvey's video update on the third round.

Round 4

New Zealand hosted the fourth round of negotiations in Wellington from 13-17 May, 2019. Overall, good progress was made and one chapter was closed.  Market access offers for goods, government procurement, services and investment have now been exchanged. We are starting to narrow the issues and focus on some of the more difficult areas, including agricultural market access. Dates for further rounds in July and October have been proposed.

Watch lead negotiator Martin Harvey's video update on the fourth round.

Round 5

Negotiators returned to Brussels for the fifth round of negotiations from 8 to 12 July.  This is a good achievement - five rounds since the launch in June 2018.  Good progress was made and a number of chapters are now close to being agreed.

Round 6

EU negotiators came to Wellington for the sixth round of negotiations from 9 to 13 December. Negotiations will kick off again in March next year.

Watch lead negotiator Martin Harvey's video update on the sixth round.

Round 7

New Zealand and EU negotiators held video conference meetings for the seventh round of negotiations from 30 March to 9 April, 2020.

Round 8

New Zealand and EU negotiators held video conference meetings for the eighth round of negotiations from 8 June to 19 June, 2020.

Round 9

New Zealand and EU negotiators held video conference meetings for the ninth round of negotiations from 23 November to 1 December, 2020.

Round 10

New Zealand and EU negotiators held video conference meetings for the tenth round of negotiations from 22 to 30 March 2021.

Round 11

New Zealand and EU negotiators held video conference meetings for the eleventh round of negotiations from 28 June to 8 July 2021.

Round 12

New Zealand and EU negotiators held video conference meetings for the twelfth round of negotiations from 14 March to 25 March 2022.

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