UK Australia and UK New Zealand trade talks Committee seeks new evidence

This comes as the committee continues to take evidence on UK-Japan and UK-US trade negotiations, more details these are available on the Committee website.

As the Government sets out ambitious plans to agree trade agreements with both Australia and New Zealand, the committee is seeking evidence at first focused on the impact on agriculture and food sectors, the movement of people in professional services and on financial services.

Lord Goldsmith QC, Chair of the International Agreements Sub-Committee, said:

“The committee has ambitious plans to scrutinise the Government's early priorities for UK post-Brexit trade negotiations. In addition to our ongoing inquiries into UK-US and UK-Japan negotiations, the Government has made clear that negotiating a free trade agreement with both New Zealand and Australia are included in these priorities, with talks having commenced earlier this month and in June.

“With Australia being the UK's 11th largest non-EU trading partner, and trade between New Zealand and the UK being worth £3bn, the committee will look to focus on the Government's objectives, the progress of negotiations, and the possible impacts of a final deal for individuals all across the UK.”

The committee is asking for submissions of written evidence to be received on one, some or all of the points outlined below, by Monday 21 September.

Questions the committee is inviting evidence on include:

Australia

• Does the Department for International Trade (DIT)'s strategic approach set out the right objectives for negotiations?
• How reliable do you find the DIT's assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed agreement with Australia?
• What are some of the points of disagreement in Australia's recent trade negotiations, that the Committee should consider when scrutinising UK-Australia negotiations?
• How might a trade deal with Australia help the UK to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and what benefits would there be in joining?
• How can the specific interests of the devolved nations of the UKbe best protected as part of the negotiation of a UK-wide trade deal with Australia?
• What are the costs and benefits of a UK-Australia trade deal to the various regions of the UK?
• How do you evaluate the economic analysis behind the DIT's the impact assessment? What are the implications for the devolved nations?
• What provisions should the UK should seek to agree with Australia on tariffs for agricultural goods imports to the UK? What economic consequences might there be for farmers and the agriculture and food industries of a deal with Australia that diverged significantly from the new UK Global Tariff?
• How might the UK agriculture and food industries approach any new competition that might arise from a trade deal with Australia? What opportunities are there for UK companies that might wish to export more to Australia under a new deal?
• What concessions will Australia be seeking regarding indicators of geographical origins on food and drinks, and how do you think the UK Government should respond?
• How might UK businesses benefit from reductions in Australian tariff and non-tariff barriers for UK machinery and transport equipment exports, including automotive exports?
• What provisions do you think the UK should seek to agree with Australia on the movement of people in professional services and what impacts might there be for UK workers and businesses?
• What opportunities are there for the UK financial services sector and what provisions do you think the UK should seek on financial services in an FTA with Australia?
• How might negotiated digital trade provisions serve as enablers for businesses in the UK? What provisions would bring the most benefit and so should be the highest priority in this area? 

New Zealand

• Does the DIT's strategic approach set out the right objectives for negotiations?
• How reliable do you find the DIT's assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed agreement with New Zealand?
• What are some points of disagreement that have emerged in New Zealand's recent trade negotiations that the Committee should bear in mind when scrutinising UK-New Zealand negotiations?
• How might a trade deal with New Zealand help the UK to join the CPTPP and what benefits would there be in joining?
• How can the specific interests of the devolved nations of the UK be best protected as part of the negotiation of a UK-wide trade deal with New Zealand?
• What are the costs and benefits of a UK-New Zealand trade deal to the various regions of the UK?
• How do you evaluate the economic analysis behind the DIT's impact assessment?
• What provisions do you think the UK should seek to agree with New Zealand on tariffs for agricultural goods imports to the UK? What economic consequences might there be for farmers and the agriculture and food industries of a deal with New Zealand that diverged significantly from the new UK Global Tariff?
• How might the UK agriculture and food industries approach any new competition that might arise from a trade deal with New Zealand?
• What concessions will New Zealand be seeking regarding indicators of geographical origins on food and drinks, and how do you think the UK Government should respond?
• How might UK businesses benefit from reductions in New Zealand's tariff and non-tariff barriers for UK exports in industries such as automotive, machinery, and textiles?
• What provisions do you think the UK should seek to agree with New Zealand on the movement of people in professional services and what impacts might there be for UK workers and businesses?
• The UK Government stated in its negotiating objectives that “New Zealand has an advanced financial services market and an ambitious agreement on financial services could enhance trading opportunities for UK service suppliers”. What opportunities are there for the UK financial services sector and what provisions do you think the UK should seek on financial services in an FTA with New Zealand?
• How might negotiated digital trade provisions serve as enablers for businesses in the UK? What provisions would bring the most benefit and so should be the highest priority in this area?