Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

New Zealand FTA: Environment

Thursday 2 May 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK and New Zealand highlighted the importance of their environmental commitments under the new free trade agreement in March.
  • The UK will continue to monitor the passage of New Zealand's proposed Fast-track Approvals Bill.
  • The UK and New Zealand are like-minded on climate, the environment, and clean growth.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Brexit Foreign Affairs Environment
Context

New Zealand's Free Trade Agreement with the UK entered into force on 31 May 2023, containing stringent environmental commitments. The question stems from concerns that a fast-track approvals process could weaken these protections.

Question

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of New Zealand's proposed Fast-track Approvals Bill on its obligations under the UK-New Zealand free trade agreement environment chapter.

Answer from Greg Hands

In March, the UK and New Zealand highlighted the importance of our environmental commitments at the first ever environment committee under our new free trade agreement. We continue to engage with New Zealand on implementing the environmental chapter, and will monitor the proposed Bill that the hon. Lady mentioned during its passage through New Zealand's Parliament.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific risk of weakening protections is not addressed directly.

How: Will Monitor The Bill

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Q2 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Climate Business & Trade Environment
Context

The New Zealand Free Trade Agreement with the UK includes a clause committing neither party to weaken its environmental laws. Concerns arise about fast-track approvals potentially eroding these protections.

Question

The New Zealand FTA entered into force on 31 May 2023. It contains a commitment in article 22 that each party will not waive or derogate from, or offer to waive or otherwise derogate from its environmental laws in a manner that weakens or reduces the protection afforded in that law. Is there not a danger that the fast-track approvals will erode those protections? What steps will the Government take to ensure that New Zealand absolutely upholds its commitments under the FTA?

Answer from Greg Hands

As I said, we will continue to monitor the passage of that proposed legislation, but the hon. Lady must recognise that the UK and New Zealand are incredibly like-minded in these areas—on climate, the environment and clean growth. The environment chapter in our free trade agreement is one of the most ambitious in any FTA anywhere in the world. It breaks new ground for both the UK and New Zealand in supporting our shared climate and environmental goals, clean growth, and the transition to a net zero economy.

Not addressed: The risk of erosion of protections is not addressed directly; instead, emphasis on shared values and ambitious goals is highlighted.

How: Monitoring Legislation, Shared Climate And Environmental Goals

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