
NZ - China FTA Signing Photo Gallery 
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The New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into force on 1 October 2008.
New Zealand and China signed the FTA at a ceremony in Beijing on 7 April 2008. The FTA has now been ratified by both signatory countries with the passing of implementing legislation in New Zealand and the exchange of notes confirming domestic legal procedures.
China is New Zealand’s third largest trading partner and the FTA aims to remove barriers to trade, including the phasing out of tariffs over time on 96 percent of New Zealand exports to China.
For example, tariffs on New Zealand exports to China of five percent or less were eliminated on 1 October. Higher tariffs will also start reducing from the date of the FTA's entry into force, giving New Zealand exporters a competitive advantage in the Chinese market.
The FTA liberalises trade in services and gives additional protection for New Zealand investors in China. It also offers advantages for businesses looking to engage with, or grow, existing linkages with China.
In addition, the FTA provides an important framework for addressing and resolving trade and investment issues between New Zealand and China, and it gives New Zealand government agencies and businesses a higher profile in China.
Road shows aimed at informing New Zealand businesses about how to make the most of the FTA have been held nationwide. Further detailed information is available from the official NZ-China FTA website.