First major act of the Spanish rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) that will last until December 31. the executive vice-president of the European Commission and trade commissioner, Valdis Dombrovskis; The Minister of Trade and Export Growth of New Zealand, Damien O’Connor, and the Ambassador of Spain to the European Union (EU), Marcos Alonso, signed this Sunday the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and New Zealand . A treaty that will protect up to 566 Spanish geographical indications in this country, such as the designations of origin Rioja, Ribera del Duero, as well as those of Vinagre de Jerez or Queso Manchego.
For the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, it has been an “excellent” start to the Spanish Presidency, in which one of the priorities set is the expansion and diversification of Spanish trade relations and the reinforcement of supply chains for the country, as well as the destination of Spanish exports and investments.
The Free Trade Agreement between the EU and New Zealand is endowed with a “broad content” through which improvements are obtained in access to the respective markets for goods, services, and public procurement. In this sense, the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand began in June 2018 and, after twelve rounds of negotiations, they concluded on June 30, 2022.
Manchego cheese, Rioja, Ribera del Duero…
Regarding the Protection of Intellectual Property, This Agreement Also Includes Protection For EU Geographical Indications, Among Which There Are 566 SPANISH GEOGRAPHICAL Indications, SUCH AS Rioja, Ribera de Duero, Sherry Vinegar or Manchego Cheese. Likewise, with the agreement already signed, once the European Parliament has given its consent, and New Zealand has ratified it, the agreement may enter into force, Héctor Gómez’s Department explained in a press release.
For its part, in 2022, Spanish exports to New Zealand reached 290.87 million euros, which is 15% more than in 2021, while the most exported products in 2022 were vehicles and components (21, 2%), meat products (11.2%), fats and oils (8.9%), machinery and equipment (8.1%), and electrical appliances and material (5.7%).
