Transparency data

27 May 2026: UK-New Zealand FTA Joint Committee – public summary

Published 2 July 2026

Officials from the United Kingdom and New Zealand met to:

• review the implementation of the UK–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in its third year of operation
• assess progress in its utilisation across committees and working groups
• identify shared priorities

Overview

Both sides welcomed the continued success of the FTA and noted the high preference utilisation rates and growing trade relationship as evidence the agreement is delivering tangible benefits for businesses. Officials highlighted the strength of the bilateral relationship and the importance of ongoing collaboration in a challenging global economic environment.

The UK and New Zealand confirmed their commitment to working closely together, including through international fora such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Trade in goods

The UK and New Zealand have exchanged Preference Utilisation Rate (PUR) data on an annual basis since the agreement entered into force in 2023. The latest data covering the period from January to December 2025 was published as part of the joint statement, showing around 91.5% of goods traded making use of preferential tariffs where one was available.  

The Joint Committee signed a decision note (decision no. 1/2026) to update the Product Specific Rules of Origin contained in annex 3A of the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement to the 2022 edition of the Harmonised System Nomenclature.

These updates will come into effect when both parties have completed their domestic procedures.

Meat quotas

Officials discussed tariff rate quota administration and decided to continue engagement between the New Zealand Meat Board and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and to finalise a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the exchange of data and support trade. 

Wine and distilled spirits

Officials reviewed progress in the wine and distilled spirits working group and ongoing regulatory cooperation.

Both sides confirmed their commitment to improving trade conditions for dealcoholised and partially dealcoholised wines. A joint understanding on the work programme on dealcoholised and partially dealcoholised wine was agreed (see annex A).

Environment, climate change and labour

Officials reviewed outcomes from the joint public session and the Environment and Climate Change and Labour Subcommittee meeting held in March 2026.

They noted strong stakeholder engagement and ongoing cooperation across areas including:

• sustainable finance
• eco-labelling
• labour standards and employment reforms

Both sides noted their ongoing commitment to the implementation of their FTA obligations related to environment, trade and labour and agreed to continue information sharing and engagement on environment and labour issues.

Services, digital trade and investment

Officials discussed progress on the digital trade review and provided a summary of recent progress in the Legal Services Regulatory Dialogue.

They also discussed opportunities to broaden cooperation across other professional services sectors and to address regulatory barriers.

Inclusive trade

Officials reviewed progress under the inclusive trade subcommittee.

Discussions covered initiatives to support:

• women’s economic empowerment
• Māori and indigenous trade
• small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Officials recognised challenges faced by SMEs, including administrative burdens and lack of transparency, and decided to continue work to improve the trading environment.

The UK shared findings from a trade digitalisation pilot, which demonstrated the potential to reduce administrative burdens and improve efficiency for businesses.

Next steps

Both sides committed to continuing close engagement to support successful outcomes and to build on the strong implementation of the FTA.

Annex A

Joint understanding on the work programme on dealcoholised and partially dealcoholised wine under the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

1. We, the governments of New Zealand and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK), recognise the shifting consumer trends on alcohol consumption and, as a result, the growing importance of low and no alcohol wines.

2. To meet consumer demand, we also emphasise the importance of improving trade conditions for dealcoholised and partially dealcoholised wine, to ensure consumers have a range of choices to satisfy changing needs and preferences.

3. Accordingly, we reaffirm Section C, paragraph 1(d) of annex 7A to chapter 7 of the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, where the UK and New Zealand agreed to “undertake a work programme with the aim of arriving at a mutually satisfactory outcome on provisions relating to dealcoholised and partially dealcoholised wines as part of Section A”. This will ensure that dealcoholised and partially dealcoholised wine from both sides can benefit from the terms of trade contained within annex 7A.

4. We acknowledge that improving the terms of trade regarding dealcoholised and partially dealcoholised wines in line with the work programme under annex 7A, as outlined in paragraph 3, is an ongoing process. Both sides commit to make as much progress as possible towards a mutually satisfactory outcome over the next year and will report progress at the 2027 Joint Committee. We believe such an outcome will enable greater consumer choice for both of us.