Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally

Australian Government - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally

Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement 

 

Photo information

Milford Sound, one of New Zealand's most famous tourist destinations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MilfordSound.jpg
Auckland Nelson Queenstown

New Zealand market snapshot

  • GDP: US$140.4 billion (2010)
  • GDP per capita: US$32,145 (2010)
  • GDP growth: 1.5 per cent (2010)
  • Population: 4.4 million (2010)
  • Trade with Australia: AU$21.301 billion (2010)

About ANZCERTA

The Australia New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (known as ANZCERTA or the CER Agreement) is one of the most comprehensive bilateral free trade agreements in existence. It covers substantially all trans-Tasman trade in goods, including agricultural products, and was the first to include free trade in services.

The Agreement's central provision is the creation of a World Trade Organization (WTO)-consistent Free Trade Area encompassing Australia and New Zealand. Since ANZCERTA entered into force in 1983, the two way trade in goods between the two countries has expanded at an average annual growth rate of eight per cent.

ANZCERTA was the first of Australia's bilateral agreements and it has continued to grow and improve with new amendments added over the years.

Key interests and benefits

  • All tariffs and quantitative import or export restrictions on trade in goods originating in the Free Trade Area are prohibited under ANZCERTA.
  • Contains measures to minimise market distortions in trade in goods, including through domestic industry assistance and export subsidies and incentives.
  • The harmonisation of Trans-Tasman food standards through the ANZFA Agreement of 1995 means lower compliance costs for industry, fewer regulatory barriers, and more consumer choice.
  • Mutual recognition of goods and services removes technical barriers to trade and impediments to the movement of skilled personnel between jurisdictions without the need for complete harmonisation of standards and professional qualifications.

More about the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement

ANZCERTA signing

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Mr Lionel Bowen, and the New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia, Sir Laurie Francis, sign the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Agreement in Canberra on 28th March 1983.

Seated, Sir Laurie Francis, left, and Mr Lionel Bowen sign the agreement, watched by officials.

Photograph by BARRY LE LIEVRE

News

2010 CER Ministerial Forum: Joint Statement - 23 June 2010

Australian and New Zealand Ministers met in Canberra on 23 June 2010 for the annual CER Ministerial Forum. The meeting was hosted by the Australian Minister for Trade, the Hon Simon Crean MP, who was joined by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Tony Burke MP and the Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law, the Hon Chris Bowen MP. The New Zealand delegation was led by the Minister of Trade, Hon Tim Groser, joined by his colleagues the Minister of Commerce, Hon Simon Power, and the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and for Biosecurity, Hon David Carter.

2010 CER Ministerial Forum: Joint Statement - 23 June 2010

Official documents

Here you can locate the full text of the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement and many other associated official documents.

Guide to the CER

Closer Economic Relations - Background Guide to the Australia New Zealand Economic Relationship - February 1997

Trade in goods

Trade in services

Protocol on investment

The Regulatory Environment for Business

Government Assistance and Purchasing

For business

This guide explains how businesses take advantage of the greater flexibility, wider choice and lower compliance costs as a result of mutual recognition and harmonisation standards set out in the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement.

Users Guide to the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (May 1998) [PDF]

More information about the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement is available from the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) website.

Doing business in New Zealand

Austrade has identified potential opportunities for Australian suppliers of goods and services in a number of sectors. Austrade's New Zealand country page supplies general information on doing business and on specific export opportunities. The Austrade website has a database that can be searched by industry.

Australian exporters seeking to access new opportunities under the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement may wish to obtain more information on rules of origin and other requirements from the Australian Customs Service.

Contact us

Requests for information, advice or comments on the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement should be addressed to:

  • Mail:
    Director, New Zealand Section
    Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
    RG Casey Building
    John McEwen Crescent
    Barton ACT 0221
  • Phone: +61 2 6261 3769
  • Fax: +61 2 6261 2248

For media enquiries please call DFAT Media Liaison Section on (02) 6261 1555.

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John McEwen Crescent
Barton ACT 0221 Australia

Tel: +61 2 6261 1111
Fax: +61 2 6261 3111

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