UK deal within sight

New Zealand will reach a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom in August, Trade Minister Damien O’Connor says. O’Connor met his British counterpart, Secretary of Trade Liz Truss, in London on Thursday, New Zealand time, and issued a statement early yesterday. An ‘‘agreement in principle’’ would be reached in August. Beef and sheep meat tariffs have been a sticking point, and New Zealand was looking to eliminate them, the minister said. The UK reached a deal with Australia on Thursday. O’Connor leaves the UK tomorrow, heading to Brussels to speak to his EU counterpart about the ongoing NZ-EU free trade agreement negotiations.