The new free trade agreement between the European Union and New Zealand

– I am very proud that the Council of the European Union will sign the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. The agreement will provide significant economic opportunity and contain the most ambitious sustainability commitments the EU has ever made in a trade agreement. It was a priority of the Swedish presidency of the European Union, said Minister of Aid and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell.

The Council of the European Union will also give the European Commission a mandate to start negotiations on agreements on digital trade rules with Singapore and South Korea. Binding rules aim, among other things, to increase predictability and security for businesses and consumers in cross-border transactions, and to counter barriers to digital trade.

The Council will also decide to adopt common principles for digital trade with Japan. The Trade Principles facilitate cooperation in key areas of digital trade to counter digital protectionism.

Several important decisions will be taken today to strengthen the EU’s relations with the Indo-Pacific region. Digital trade agreements with Singapore and South Korea will create favorable conditions for digital trade, thus contributing to green transformation, innovation, growth and job creation within the EU and partner countries, according to Minister for Aid and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell.