Given the difficulties both of COVID-19 and the challenges to the international trading system, the achievement of this gold-standard deal cannot be overstated, and it speaks to New Zealand's long history of negotiating high-quality and inclusive agreements. This FTA sends an important signal of New Zealand's openness to trade and our ability and commitment to progress and conclude trade agreements that deliver for New Zealand. This includes our latest free-trade agreement with the European Union, one of our largest trading partners, for which an FTA has been a longstanding trade priority of successive New Zealand Governments. Prime Minister Ardern and European Commission President von der Leyen announced conclusion of these negotiations just a few weeks ago, on 30 June. 