UPDATED 9.21am: The Minister of Trade is still hopeful of a European trade deal.

Tim Groser was at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week - and is now heading to Brussels to meet the new European commissioner for trade.

He says the first step is underway with a political accord between New Zealand and the European Union.

But Mr Groser told Newstalk ZB's Jack Tame such a free trade deal is no easy ask.

"We have to push. You know, it's always the case. We have to be knocking on their doors otherwise they won't pay any attention to us."

Meanwhile, we're inching ever closer to a Trans Pacific Partnership deal.

Groser caught up with the U.S's trade representative at Davos last week to discuss the deal in further detail.

He says our chief negotiator will meet for more technical discussions on the TPP in New York tomorrow.

Tim Groser is pretty optimistic.

"There's tremendous momentum there and I'm saying metaphorically, I reckon 80 percent likely we'll get this done within the next six months."