Tom Harwood: UK's trade deal with New Zealand is bold and liberalising

I have to say, on all of this, that the opponents of this deal need to make up their minds.

Many online point to how small and far away New Zealand is, as if it’s not worthwhile to deal with developed countries based on their geography.

An incredibly parochial point of view, stuck in the past.

The other argument in opposition is completely contradictory. Other critics say this deal will glut our market with tonnes and tonnes of cheaper food.

And they claim this as a bad thing. Ultimately they're both wrong. This deal is significant.

Not because New Zealand is the biggest economy in the world, but because of what it represents about the future direction of UK trade.

Our pivot to the growth markets of the world. To old friends and new partners. The shape of the deal is bold and liberalising.

It will eliminate tariffs on a huge range of goods, ensuring free competition. And free competition is fair competition.

Taxes on imports are just taxes on consumers. They make our goods more expensive.

Removing as many as humanly possible is a good good thing. But more than that, interestingly look at those three bespoke deals we have now agreed: Japan, Australia, New Zealand.

All in the Indo-Pacific. All members of a big trade area called the CPTPP - the comprehensive and progressive trans pacific partnership.

The UK is inching closer to joining this trade agreement. And that could be hugely significant.

A multilateral trade agreement, what so many wished the EU could have been. Trade not political control. How refreshing that will be.