Hon Phil Goff
Minister of Trade
21 September 2006
Trans-Tasman Trade On The Agenda In Cairns
New Zealand’s trade and economic relationship with Australia was the subject of a dedicated Ministerial Forum in Cairns
attended by Trade Minister Phil Goff, Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton and Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel, and their
Australian counterparts Mark Vaile, Peter McGauran and Ian MacFarlane on Wednesday.
“The range of portfolios involved in the meeting reflects the sheer breadth and significance of the economic
relationship” the Ministers said.
“It ranges from a multi-billion dollar trade relationship to an extensive ‘behind the border’ programme of economic
cooperation under the Single Economic Market, where we are addressing barriers to doing business in both countries and
trans-Tasman.”
“At Cairns we reviewed achievements under the CER heading including agreement on new Rules of Origin (which will be of
great benefit to exporters in both countries), and the extension of Australia’s Wine Equalisation Tax rebate to New
Zealand wine-makers”
Ministers also discussed specific trade access issues under the biosecurity heading, including access for New Zealand’s
stonefruit to Australia – which will shortly be able to access Western Australia – but also apples.
“Jim Anderton made clear the importance we place on resolving the apples issue promptly and in a way which allows for
commercially meaningful access to the Australian market”
“We also looked at progress under the Single Economic Market agenda, launching a Users’ Guide on the Trans-Tasman Mutual
Recognition Arrangement – which plays a vital role in supporting the free flow of goods and labour for both countries –
and we compared notes on our respective efforts to improve the regulatory environment for business”
“The meeting was taking place back-to-back with this year’s meeting of the Cairns Group and we were strongly agreed on
the vital importance of the WTO Doha Round resuming” the Ministers said.
Finally, Ministers met with senior representatives of the New Zealand and Australian food and beverage sectors, who had
held a parallel business dialogue.
“These sectors make a significant contribution to the prosperity of both countries, and we as Ministers strong support
efforts towards a more collaborative approach between the sectors, which face many issues in common.”
“Our meeting in Cairns reflected both the great achievements of the CER relationship over the years. It also showed that
both countries are committed to building on this success as we face the challenges of the new century” the Ministers
concluded.
The CER Ministerial Forum communique is attached.
ENDS
The Hon Mark Vaile MP The Hon Phil Goff MP
Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Trade
Minister for Trade Minister for Trade Negotiations
2006 CER MINISTERIAL FORUM
JOINT COMMUNIQUE
The 2006 CER Ministerial Forum was held in Cairns on 20 September, hosted by the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Trade, the Hon Mark Vaile, with his colleagues the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, the Hon
Ian Macfarlane and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Peter McGauran.
The New Zealand delegation was led by the Minister of Trade, the Hon Phil Goff, with his colleagues the Minister of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Biosecurity, the Hon Jim Anderton and the Minister of Commerce and
Women’s Affairs and Minister for Small Business, the Hon Lianne Dalziel.
Since its inception 23 years ago, ANZCERTA (or CER) has been an extraordinary success in improving trans-Tasman trade
and economic links. CER remains one of the most open and successful free trade agreements in the world covering free
trade in all goods and almost all services; and together with its related arrangements, provides for the free movement
of people and trans-Tasman mutual recognition for goods and occupational qualifications.
Australia is New Zealand’s principal trading partner, and New Zealand is Australia’s fifth-largest export market and
seventh-largest source of imports. In 2005-06 trans-Tasman trade amounted to A$14.2 billion in goods. Trade in services
amounted to A$4.7 billion in 2005. Bilateral investment amounts to around A$83 billion. Australia is New Zealand's
principal investment partner, and New Zealand is the third largest destination for Australian investment abroad.
The engagement of Ministers responsible for trade, agriculture, and commerce and industry reflects the breadth of the
trans-Tasman economic relationship, which now goes significantly beyond a very substantial trade relationship towards an
extensive ‘behind the border’ programme under the Single Economic Market agenda.
The Ministers noted that there had been good progress on many CER-related issues since the last Forum, including
agreement to introduce new ANZCERTA Rules of Origin (ROO) by the anticipated commencement date of 1 January 2007, based
on a change of tariff classification (CTC) approach, extension of Australia’s Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) rebate to New
Zealand wine producers and a review of the effectiveness of the Treaty Concerning a Joint Food Standards System, in
meeting its objectives, including reducing barriers to trade. These are significant elements in the further development
of a single economic market and a seamless regulatory environment.
The meeting agreed that adopting a CTC approach for ANZCERTA ROO will promote increased trade and more efficient
industries on both sides of the Tasman by simplifying the rules, reducing costs for business and government and bringing
ANZCERTA into line with international trends. NZ Ministers welcomed the extension of the WET rebate to New Zealand wine
producers selling into the Australian market, with claims able to be lodged for sales made since 1 July 2005.
Ministers highlighted the significant developments in the trans-Tasman Single Economic Market (SEM) agenda since they
last met. These included work in the areas of trans-Tasman banking supervision, cooperative activities on business law,
mutual recognition of securities offerings and competition and consumer policy, all of which is aimed at creating a
seamless business regulatory environment across the Tasman. Ministers welcomed the agreement to negotiate a CER
investment protocol, noting the importance to both countries of liberalized investment flows.
Ministers noted that mutual recognition of Australian and New Zealand regulatory regimes under the Trans Tasman Mutual
Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA) continues to play a critical role in the further evolution of a trans-Tasman single
economic market for goods and the free flow of people engaged in registered occupations across the Tasman.
In this context Ministers reaffirmed the importance of working together under the TTMRA by launching an updated Users’
Guide to the Mutual Recognition Agreement and Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement.
The Users’ Guide is designed to assist exporters, people in registered occupations, policy makers and regulators in both
countries to understand better the mutual recognition schemes and to ensure that their benefits are fully realized.
The meeting noted that improving the regulatory environment was an important objective for both Governments so that all
businesses, large and small, can prosper and grow. Australia briefed New Zealand on its recently announced response to
the “Banks” Taskforce report: Rethinking Regulation: Report of the Taskforce on Reducing Regulatory Burdens on Business.
New Zealand briefed Australia on its equivalent Quality Regulation Review, due to be completed by mid 2007. Ministers
noted the opportunity the respective reviews provided to further align trans-Tasman regulatory systems and agreed to
continue to exchange views and cooperate closely, including in trans-Tasman ministerial councils, on improving the
regulatory frameworks and reducing the cost to business of engaging in trans-Tasman commerce.
Useful discussions were also held on biosecurity and quarantine market access issues. Australian and New Zealand
Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to sound science as the basis for all quarantine decisions. The meeting noted that
since 2004 New Zealand had granted access to Australian bananas, honey, mangoes and papaya. Australia had granted access
for New Zealand stonefruit to Western Australia and had progressed the draft import risk analysis for New Zealand apples
exports.
Ministers noted that the New Zealand apple IRA was likely to be completed by the end of 2006. New Zealand Ministers drew
attention to the New Zealand Government's submission to the draft Import Risk Assessment and reiterated the importance
that New Zealand attached to commercially meaningful access for New Zealand apples to Australia.
Ministers exchanged views on prospects for the WTO Doha Round. They agreed that urgent steps were needed to create the
conditions for a resumption of the WTO negotiations. The immediate requirement was for the parallel development of
improved positions on market access and domestic support. Ministers noted that further movement was needed to provide an
assurance of real and commercially significant results in these pillars. Ministers discussed preparations for
Australia’s year as chair of APEC in 2007 and New Zealand Ministers reaffirmed support for Australia’s efforts to
produce a strong set of outcomes across the board.
Ministers also exchanged views on their respective FTA negotiations with third countries as well as negotiations being
undertaken by Australia and New Zealand on an FTA with ASEAN. They re-affirmed their strong commitment to negotiating
high quality, comprehensive agreements covering goods, services, investment and other trade-related areas and agreed to
maintain close consultation and dialogue on these matters.
CER Business Dialogue members, representing the Australian and New Zealand food and beverage sectors, held a parallel
dialogue during the meeting. These sectors make a significant contribution to the prosperity and export earnings of both
countries. Dialogue members exchanged views with Ministers on future trans-Tasman collaboration and coordination to
promote opportunities for further export growth, especially where this helps build scale and enhance competitiveness in
third markets. New Zealand briefed the meeting on its recently released Food and Beverage Taskforce report.
CAIRNS
20 SEPTEMBER 2006
The Hon Ian Macfarlane MP The Hon Jim Anderton MP
Minister for Industry, Tourism and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Resources Forestry
Minister for Biosecurity
The Hon Peter McGauran MP The Hon Lianne Dalziel MP
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries Minister of Commerce and Women’s
and Forestry Affairs
Minister for Small Business
ENDS