Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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53. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the developments at EU level on preliminary discussions for a potential trade deal with Australia and New Zealand. [40123/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The EU, Australia and New Zealand are like-minded partners who share many common perspectives on today's international trade environment.

The EU and Australia conduct their trade and economic relations under the EU-Australia Partnership Framework of October 2008. This aims, apart from cooperation on the multilateral trade system and trade in services and investment issues, to facilitate trade in industrial products between the EU and Australia by reducing technical barriers, including conformity assessment procedures. EU and Australian leaders met on the 15th November 2015 and agreed to commence work toward the launch of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement.

Since 1999 the EU and New Zealand have a bilateral agreement for mutual recognition that aims to facilitate trade in industrial products between the EU and New Zealand by reducing technical barriers, including assessment procedures. It covers medicine products and devices, telecommunication equipment, low voltage equipment, machinery and pressure equipment. In 2003 a veterinary agreement entered into force aimed at facilitating trade in live animals and animal products while safeguarding public and animal health. This was then updated in 2015.

The European Commission concluded preparatory talks with New Zealand on the 7th March 2017 and with Australia on the 6th April 2017 to assess whether the countries have similar interests for a formal trade deal to be feasible. This scoping exercise defines the areas to be covered and the level of ambition of future free trade agreements.

On 13th September 2017, following the State of the Union address by President Juncker, the Commission published its proposals for mandates seeking authorisation to open negotiations for Free Trade Agreements with both Australia and New Zealand. In parallel, the Commission has finalised impact assessments of the potential impact of such trade deals.

These impact assessments take into account new opportunities that such agreements could create for EU businesses, as well as taking into account EU agricultural sensitivities as provided for in the European Commission’s “Trade Strategy for All 2015”.

The mandates authorisating the opening of negotiations with both Australia and New Zealand will require the approval of the Council and the European Parliament.

The EU’s suite of Free Trade Agreements with 3rd Countries help to open new markets, break down barriers and provide new opportunities for Irish firms. These existing EU Agreements and new trade deals will continue to be important for Ireland. With a small domestic market, further expansion in other markets is essential to our continued economic growth.

Ireland will continue to support the EU’s ambitious programme of negotiating new Free Trade Agreements giving Irish Firms expanded market access and a predictable trading environment in third countries.