Trade agreements
New Zealand has a number of trade agreements in place to make it easier for trade to flow between New Zealand and other signatory countries. These are:
- ASEAN-Australia/NZ Free Trade Area
- New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement
- Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership
- New Zealand and Thailand Closer Economic Partnership
- New Zealand and Singapore Closer Economic Partnership
- Australia and New Zealand Closer Economic Relations
- New Zealand and Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (signed but not yet in force)
Free trade agreements and other trade agreements have the effect of improving and maintaining access (for example through tariff cuts) and reducing other barriers to trade with signatory countries. These agreements can give you preferential access relative to firms from non-signatory countries. However, they also help to level the playing field in markets where competitors have already secured advantage through their own trade agreements.
Find out more about these trade agreements on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) website. You can also download a basic guide to free trade agreements from that website.
Conventions and treaties
New Zealand has signed up to a number of conventions that may affect certain types of exporters. For example, if you are exporting hazardous waste you will need a permit from the Ministry of Economic Development as a requirement of the Basel convention. Other treaties are designed to assist exporters such as the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, which aims to stop the trade of counterfeit good.
For a complete list of treaties see the international treaties list on the MFAT website.
Export controls on strategic goods
There are a number of conventions New Zealand has signed up to regarding the export of ‘strategic goods’, this can cover:
- munitions
- chemical precursors
- nuclear materials
- dual use goods that could have military applications.
If you are exporting any of these goods you will need to get a permit from MFAT.
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