Market accessAPECExport controlsNZ and the WTOOECDTrade AgreementsTrade RelationshipsTrade and economic analysisTrade lawTrade scholarships
Find MFAT's information paper on a country or territory. (We don't have information papers on all countries.)
Although we have tried to use plain English content on the site, you may come across specialist terms and acronyms. Find out what they mean in our glossary of terms.
If you come across a term that isn't included in the Glossary please send us an email.
New Zealand through the Ministry for the Environment and the Kingdom of Thailand through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (hereinafter referred to as “the Participants”)
Desiring to strengthen their growing economic and political relationship as reflected in the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement between New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand;
Sharing a common aspiration to conserve and enhance environmental quality, to promote closer and greater cooperation, and to improve the capacities and capabilities of both countries, including non‑government sectors, to tackle environmental issues effectively;
Committed to the pursuit of sustainable development as well as recognising its interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars - economic development, social development and environmental protection;
Recognising further the benefits of sound environment policies and practices in promoting sustainable economic development and improved living standards;
Renouncing the use of environmental laws, regulations, policies and practices for trade protectionist purposes;
Reaffirming the international commitments made at the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992 as well as those agreed to by the Participants in multilateral environmental agreements;
Respecting the sovereign right of each country to set environmental policies and standards and to enforce environmental laws and regulations;
Acknowledging the legitimate comparative advantages that may arise from different natural resource capacities or social or economic factors;
Affirm their intention to work together to promote sound environmental policies and practices and, as a basis for a bilateral partnership founded on dialogue and consensus, have reached the following understandings:
1.1 The Participants reaffirm their shared responsibilities and commitments, as global citizens, to high levels of environmental protection, taking into account the particular socio-economic conditions in each country.
1.2 Each Participant will work actively to ensure that its environmental laws, regulations, policies and practices are in harmony with internationally accepted levels of environmental protection such as those established by multilateral environment agreements to which the Participants are party.
1.3 Each Participant will ensure that its environmental laws, regulations, policies and practices are not used for trade protectionist purposes.
1.4 Each Participant will not seek to gain trade or investment advantage by weakening or derogating from its environmental laws and regulations.
1.5 Each Participant will promote public awareness of its environmental laws, regulations, policies and practices domestically, and endeavour to ensure that the processes and institutions for the operation and enforcement of its environmental laws and regulations are fair, equitable and transparent.
2.1 The Participants recognise the importance of cooperation in order to help achieve their aspiration to conserve and enhance environmental quality and the Shared Understandings of this Arrangement, and to strengthen their broader bilateral relationship.
2.2 Taking account of the prevailing laws and regulations in their respective countries, and subject to national priorities and available resources, the Participants will jointly decide cooperative environmental activities in areas of mutual interest and concern.
2.3 Cooperative activities may be in areas of environmental expertise and technology and natural resource management including but not limited to waste management, wetlands management, eco‑tourism, water resources/watershed management, environmental remediation, climate change‑related technologies, extended producer responsibility, biodiversity conservation, national park/reserve management, marine and coastal resources management, public participation in environmental management and environmental education.
2.4 These activities may be implemented through a variety of means, such as the exchange of best practice and information, joint projects, exchanges, visits, workshops and dialogue, including in relation to international environmental forums and matters. The funding of cooperative activities will be decided by the Participants on a case-by-case basis.
3.1 The Participants establish an Environment Committee comprising senior officials of their government agencies responsible for environmental matters. The Committee will meet within the first year of the date of entry into effect of this Arrangement and subsequently thereafter as mutually decided by the Participants. Unless the Participants decide otherwise, the venue for meetings will alternate between the two countries.
3.2 Each Participant will designate a national focal point at officials’ level to facilitate communication between the Participants concerning this Arrangement.
3.3 The Environment Committee and national focal points may exchange information and coordinate activities under this Arrangement between meetings using email, video conferencing or other means of communication.
3.4 The functions of the Environment Committee will include:
3.5 In carrying out its work the Environment Committee may consult or seek the advice of non-government sectors or relevant experts in each country and may decide to invite their attendance at meetings of the Committee.
3.6 Each Participant will provide an opportunity for the members of its public or domestic non‑government sectors to submit views or advice to it on matters relating to the operation of this Arrangement.
3.7 Where any differences arise between the Participants over the interpretation or application of this Arrangement, the Participants will endeavour to resolve the differences through consultation within the Environment Committee. If a Participant seeks a meeting of the Environment Committee to assist in resolving any such differences, the Environment Committee will meet as soon as practicable and no later than 90 days following the request.
3.8 The Ministers responsible for this Arrangement in each country will meet at least once within the first two years of the operation of this Arrangement and otherwise as mutually decided with a view to reviewing the operation of this Arrangement and resolving any differences not able to be resolved within the Environment Committee. The Ministers may seek a report of the Environment Committee to assist in their deliberations.
4.1 This Arrangement will not legally bind the Participants.
4.2 This Arrangement will come into effect upon signature.
Signed in duplicate, at …………………. on this …………. day of ……….. in the year of ……………. in the English language.
| For the Government of New Zealand |
For the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand |
| (Jim Sutton) for Minister of Environment |
(Sora-at Klinpratoom) Minister of Environment |
