December 27th, 2024
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is set to meet with his UK counterpart, Rishi Sunak, at 10 Downing Street this week to discuss advancing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries, according to a New Zealand Government media release.
The meeting is scheduled during Hipkins' trip to London for the Coronation of King Charles III.
Hipkins said that, "trade and securing improved trade access for New Zealand exporters is a foreign policy priority for me this year and it will be a big focus of my visit ahead of the Coronation itself."
The FTA is estimated to boost New Zealand's goods exports to the UK by over 50%, increase the country's annual GDP by up to $1 billion, and save around $37 million per year on tariff elimination from day one.
Other topics on the agenda for the meeting include the enhanced working holiday scheme, the war in Ukraine, and the UK's role in the Indo-Pacific.
During his trip, Hipkins will also visit New Zealand Defence Force personnel training Ukrainian troops outside of London and attend a high-powered roundtable discussion on climate change, focusing on adaptation and the resilience of horticulture and agriculture in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.