New Zealand – Conversation between Franck Riester and Damien O’Connor (15 February2021)

Franck Riester, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, met via video conference on February 15 with Damien O’Connor, Minister of Agriculture and Foreign Trade of New Zealand.

This meeting with one of our key partners in the Indo-Pacific region provided an opportunity to discuss the ongoing negotiations on a trade agreement between the EU and New Zealand, as well as the latest WTO developments, in a context in which France and New Zealand share the goal of ensuring greater consideration of sustainable development and the climate emergency in international trade rules.

The two ministers also discussed the key challenges for economic and trade relations between France and New Zealand, as well as cooperation with respect to Covid-19 vaccines in the Pacific.