New Zealand-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement

Background information paper

How to make your views known

The government is interested in your views on the proposed FTA between New Zealand and the GCC member countries. You may wish to highlight:

• Specific issues you would like to see addressed
• Potential benefits and risks to New Zealand; and
• Outcomes that you would like to see from the FTA.

In particular, the government is interested in information from New Zealand businesses and/or individuals on:

• Tariff, non-tariff and regulatory barriers that affect your ability to export to, and do business in, the GCC countries.
  Where relevant, it would be helpful to learn the products or services your business is already exporting to the six GCC member countries and, in the case of goods, their tariff classification and the duties you are paying. Where relevant, any information supplied should be country-specific, including details of products or services you would consider exporting to GCC member countries if tariff or non-tariff barriers were addressed.
• Investment issues, particularly information from businesses and/or individuals currently investing, or planning to invest, in the Gulf region, as well as views on what measures could be adopted to help encourage further investment flows between New Zealand and the GCC.
• Developing closer commercial links between New Zealand and the GCC member countries, which is an important objective of an FTA. The government is interested in any views of New Zealand businesses on any measures that could be pursued to achieve this objective. Feedback is requested from the business community on temporary entry issues, eg any difficulties, delays or other frustrations that New Zealand business travellers may be experiencing in entering or staying in the GCC states.
• How New Zealand could pursue the objectives contained in the 2001 frameworks for Integrating Labour Standards and Environment Standards in the context of FTA negotiations with the GCC. We would wish to learn of businesses/organisations’ interests in environment and labour issues within the GCC.

As in negotiations for other closer economic partnerships, free trade agreements and regional trade agreements, New Zealand will seek a provision which gives New Zealand governments scope to implement policies related to Maori, including fulfilment of obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, without being constrained by other provisions in the FTA.

 

Negotiating team contact details

It would be desirable to receive your feedback by Monday 30 April 2007 to allow sufficient time for analysis before the first negotiating round in late June 2007.

Any questions or comments about the submissions or consultation process should be forwarded to:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Free Trade Agreements – Gulf Cooperation Council
Private Bag 18-901
Wellington
Tel: + 64 4 439 8607
Fax: + 64 4 439 8545
Email: ftam@mfat.govt.nz

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