May 2024: New Zealand and the UAE announced launch of CEPA negotiations. Read the press release.(external link)
June 2024: New Zealand and the UAE held the first round of CEPA negotiations in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates from 3-5 June 2024.
July 2024: New Zealand and the UAE held CEPA negotiations in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates from 22-25 July 2024 (covering Investment, Services, Rules of Origin, and Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation). Virtual meetings also covered Technical Barriers to Trade, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Economic Cooperation.
August 2024: New Zealand and the UAE held CEPA negotiations in Dubai, United Arab Emirates throughout August (covering Legal and Institutional provisions, Government Procurement, Investment, Trade in Goods, Indigenous Trade, Trade Remedies, Competition, Services, and SPS). Virtual meetings also covered Trade and Sustainable Development and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
September 2024: New Zealand and UAE held CEPA negotiations in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 2-13 September, and from 19-20 September. These negotiations were followed by CEPA negotiations in Wellington, New Zealand from 23-25 September 2024. Virtual negotiations also took place throughout the month.
New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates concluded negotiations in Wellington on 26 September 2024.Read the media statement: New Zealand concludes trade agreement with the UAE(external link).
See the Overview of CEPA Chapters and Key Benefits.
Exploratory discussions
September 2023: New Zealand and the UAE announced commencement of exploratory discussions on a CEPA. . Read the press release(external link).
December 2023: 1st round of exploratory discussions held virtually.
February 2024: 2nd round of exploratory discussions held virtually.
February 2024: Minister McClay issued a call for public submissions on the prospect of opening CEPA negotiations with the UAE. Read the press release.(external link)
March 2024: 3rd round of exploratory discussions held virtually.
April 2024: 4th round of exploratory discussions held virtually.
What happens next?
With negotiations concluded, the agreement will undergo legal verification to prepare it for signature and public release.
New Zealand and the UAE will work towards signing the CEPA, at which point both sides will commence their respective legal processes to bring the Agreement into force. For New Zealand, this includes parliamentary scrutiny of the text of the agreement and an associated National Interest Analysis, which will provide an opportunity for the public to make submissions on the CEPA. Following a Select Committee report, Parliament will then consider the legislation required to implement the agreement.