1. The premise
New Zealand is small, remote, and highly dependent on trade agreements.
It was the first developed country to conclude a free trade agreement with China.
2. The agreement
Signed in 2008, in force from 1 October 2008, and upgraded by a protocol that entered into force on 7 April 2022.
3. What the upgrade changed
Market access
Further liberalisation on wood and paper products, and on some services.
Rules of origin
Simplified procedures, including a shift toward certification by the exporter rather than only by an authority.
Customs procedures
Commitments on release times and on advance rulings.
4. The certificate
An origin declaration, made by an approved exporter or by the exporter on the invoice, depending on the value threshold and the party’s regime.
5. The categories
Dairy is the sensitive category for New Zealand and is handled through special arrangements.
Wood and paper gained access in the upgrade.
6. The biosecurity overlay
New Zealand’s biosecurity requirements are strict and independent of the tariff.
7. A scenario
An exporter used the authority certificate route out of habit after the upgrade.
For the shipment value and the product category involved, an origin declaration by the exporter was sufficient, and faster.
8. The lesson
Where the certificate mechanism has been simplified, continuing to use the old route costs time without adding value.
9. Closing view
New Zealand is a market where the agreement is mature and the procedures have been streamlined.
Using the streamlined procedures is the benefit.
*This article is based on the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and its 2022 upgrade protocol.*