In 2017, the Governments of New Zealand, Australia and the ten countries that make up the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will launch a comprehensive review of the ASEAN Australia New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA).

The twelve countries covered by AANZFTA are home to 600 million people, with a combined economic output of USD $2.65 trillion. The introduction of more liberal and transparent trade rules have helped to grow New Zealand’s trade with ASEAN from around $12 billion in 2010 to over $15 billion in 2015.

The Government would like to use the upcoming review to ensure AANZFTA is working as hard for New Zealand businesses as it could. As part of this, it has the opportunity to update, improve or expand the scope of the agreement if needed.

Why AANZFTA is being reviewed

AANZFTA entered into force for New Zealand in 2010. When it was signed, the twelve parties to the agreement envisaged that AANZFTA would be a ‘living document’, able to respond to changing business needs and the evolving regional economic situation.

There have been a number of important developments since 2010: The Trans Pacific Partnership was concluded, negotiations towards the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership progressed, and the ASEAN Economic Community was launched.

The Government would like to use the review to ensure AANZFTA is benefiting New Zealand businesses.

The full Terms of Reference for the review can be found here [PDF, 113 KB]

Why submissions are important

The submissions will help ensure the Government has a thorough understanding of the issues that matter to New Zealand companies doing business in South East Asia.

It will help inform the Government’s approach to the review and allow us to safeguard and enhance New Zealand’s key economic interests in the region.

Who Mfat want submissions from

Mfat would like to hear from New Zealand businesses that are doing business with or in South East Asian countries, including those who are:

• Exporting or importing goods;
• Supplying or receiving services;
• Investing in the region or receiving investments from the region.

In particular, it’s interested in getting the views of companies using AANZFTA or that might use AANZFTA in the future.

Mfat would also like the views of groups or individuals who have a more general interest in New Zealand’s economic relationship with South East Asia.

How submissions will be used

All submissions will be treated as commercial-in-confidence and not shared outside the Government without permission. Please ensure that any issues are identified that one would prefer to discuss with MFAT officials, rather than including in a submission.

Questions to consider

The following questions may help guide the content of your submission. They highlight the sort of information we are interested in, but you should not feel limited by them. Please include anything else that might be relevant:

• What sector(s) does your business operate in?
• Which countries in South East Asia do you export to or invest in?
• Which countries in South East Asia do you receive imports or investments from?
• What proportion of your exports go to countries in South East Asia?
• What sort of presence do you have in South East Asia (e.g. sales office, full subsidiary)?
• Are the goods or services you export or import part of a ‘supply chain’ that crosses borders? What obstacles to you face in participating in cross-border supply chains?
• Do you export under AANZFTA, or another FTA with South East Asia (i.e. Malaysia-NZ FTA or the Thai-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership)? What factors contributed to your decision?
• What benefit, if any, has AANZFTA had on your business?
• How could we make AANZFTA easier to use or more relevant to your business?
• What are the biggest impediments to growing your business in South East Asia (e.g. tariffs, standards and conformance issues, regulations)?
• What areas of regulation are the most challenging for your business?
• What sort of advantages do you think your international competitors have in the markets you operate in? What would help give you the edge? 

How to make a submission

Mfat says it will accept written submissions in no particular format, and would also be happy to speak with interested parties in person should they wish to make an oral submission.

E-mail submissions or meeting requests, or post to:

AANZFTA Desk Officer

Trade Negotiations Division

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Private Bag 18-901

Wellington

Deadline for submissions is no-later-than Friday, 2 December 2016.