The agreement also provides additional transparency in the treatment of forest products as part of forward-looking commitments under the existing free trade agreement. The New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (NZCFTA) came into force on 1 October 2008. NZ was the first OECD country to sign a comprehensive free trade agreement with China. Information on the rules of origin and the use of this agreement can be found in The Thailand Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (PDF 262 KB). More information about Thailand CEP can also be found on the MFAT website. In 2014, China and New Zealand announced that they would seek to enhance the free trade agreement. The upgrade is expected to be completed in 2016. [16] The importer may choose by the exporter or manufacturer the form of proof of origin it is seeking, provided it contains all the necessary data elements. A guide is available to merchants if they wish. The goods can be shipped by a non-party party to the agreement and maintain preference. However, goods must not enter the trade or trade of a party or be subject to certain operations other than unloading, transshipment, deconditioning and other procedures necessary to keep the goods in good condition while they are being transported by that party.

The existing free trade agreement already allows duty-free access to more than 98% of New Zealand`s merchandise exports to China once fully implemented. These include the best customs treatment of the forestry sector to China for each country. “New Zealand was the first developed country to sign a free trade agreement with China in 2008, but China`s free trade agreements have evolved since then,” Parker said. The South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (SPARTECA) is a non-reciprocal trade agreement in which NZ (with Australia) provides preferential tariff treatment for certain products that are the production or production of Pacific Forum countries (known as the Forum Island Countries). For NZ products exported to an Island Country Forum, there is no preferential rate. For more information on rules of origin and agreement, visit Fact Sheet 8 (PDF 701 KB). weak food safety and environmental standards as a result of China`s agricultural exports to NZ, which will inevitably be multiplied by the agreement; working conditions and the lack of rights for Chinese workers who are not subject to the free trade agreement; China`s broader human rights record, including repression in Tibet; the ability of Chinese companies to now sue the New Zealand government if it limits Chinese trade or investment in any way for reasons of labour rights, environmental standards or health problems; and the inability of New Zealand fruit and vegetable producers to compete with the influx of Chinese imports, given lower wages in their production costs. The Enhanced Economic Partnership Agreement between New Zealand and Hong Kong,China (NZ-HKC CEP) was signed on 29 March 2010 in Hong Kong and came into force on 1 January 2011. The agreement allows products exported from Hong Kong, China, to receive preferential tariff treatment upon importation into the NZ. Currently, all those who are imported into Hong Kong, China, are duty free, regardless of their origin. The agreement ensures that in the future, New Zealand goods imported into Hong Kong will remain duty-free in China.

A new chapter on the environment has been added to the updated free trade agreement. This is the most ambitious environmental chapter and the most ambitious commitment agreed by China in a free trade agreement. It includes obligations to promote environmental protection and not use environmental standards for trade protectionism.