Trade Ministers for New Zealand and China today signed an upgrade to the free trade agreement between the two countries.
“This modernises our free trade agreement and ensures it will remain fit for purpose for another decade,” Minister for
Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor said.
“This upgraded agreement comes at a time of considerable global economic disruption due to COVID-19. The upgraded free
trade agreement is part of the Government’s Trade Recovery Strategy, in response to the economic shock of COVID-19.”
Minister O’Connor signed the upgraded agreement at the Beehive in Wellington through a ‘virtual signing ceremony’ with
China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, who was participating from Beijing.
“China is one of New Zealand’s most important relationships. Signing this agreement today builds on the significant
benefits both countries have enjoyed as a result of our existing FTA,” Damien O’Connor said.
Key outcomes of the upgrade include new rules that will make exporting to China easier and reduce compliance costs for
New Zealand exports, a better deal for our services exporters through expanded market access and most-favoured nation
commitments, and the introduction of environmental considerations - the most ambitious trade and environment chapter and
the highest level of commitment that China has agreed in any FTA.
The upgrade will also mean that 99% of New Zealand’s nearly $3 billion wood and paper trade to China will have
tariff-free access to China.
These outcomes will bring tangible benefits to a range of New Zealand businesses, including exporters of perishable
goods such as seafood, the forestry sector, and other primary sector industries. Services sectors that will benefit from
new or enhanced market access commitments include advertising, education and aviation-related services.
“New Zealand’s existing free trade agreement with China has been very successful, but China’s free trade agreements and
our business practices have evolved since it was signed over a decade ago,” Damien O’Connor said.
“This is why we entered into upgrade negotiations: to ensure our agreement is modern and deepens our relationship
further, and that New Zealand’s exporters have the best possible access to the China market,” Damien O’Connor said.
In dairy, existing conditions have been maintained, with all safeguard tariffs to be eliminated within one year for most
products, and three years for milk powder.
“This means that by 1 January 2024, all New Zealand dairy exports to China will be tariff free.
“Protections in the existing agreement that are important to New Zealanders, such as our rules on overseas investment
and the Treaty of Waitangi exception, remain in place,” Damien O’Connor said.
Parliament will now consider the agreement for ratification as part of New Zealand’s treaty examination process before
it enters into force.
China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner, with two-way goods and services trade now exceeding $32 billion a year.