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With the ASEAN-Australian-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) moving towards conclusion, we would like to encourage you to attend one of our consultation rounds scheduled over the next couple of weeks.
Negotiators met in Brisbane last week for the most recent round. Each round has seen negotiators make further progress across the wider negotiation, including goods, investment and services. The next step in the process is a meeting on the ASEAN Trade Ministers and their tradeing counterparts this week in Bali from 2-4 May. New Zealand's Minister of Trade Phil Goff will be representing New Zealand at this meeting.
The AANZFTA agreement is of vital strategic importance for New Zealand. It is a key element of our rapidly evolving trade policy for reasons of both regional integration and commercial opportunities that strengthen our competitiveness
The ASEAN market of more than 475 million people is also an increasingly important target for New Zealand service suppliers, including education, environmental services, engineering and so on as well as a growing destination for outward investment.
The AANZFTA will be the first time that ASEAN has negotiated a comprehensive agreement as part of a “single undertaking”, i.e. one that simultaneously spans goods, services and investment, as well as the other subjects covered in a modern FTA such as intellectual property.
At this critical juncture in the negotiations, officials are keen to hear again from New Zealand businesses and stakeholders who have an interest in the ASEAN region and also to take the opportunity to provide an update on the shape of the negotiations.
Consultation sessions, led by New Zealand’s new Lead Negotiator Vangelis Vitalis will be held in the following centres:
Wellington
Date: Wednesday 14 May 3pm – 5pm
Venue: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 195 Lambton Quay, L12
Auckland
Date: Thursday 15 May 10.00am – 12.00pm
Venue: NZTE Boardroom, Level 11, ANZ Centre, 23-29 Albert Street, Auckland
Christchurch
Date: Tuesday 20 May – 10.30am – 12.30pm
Venue: NZTE Boardroom, Level 8, PWC Centre, 119 Armagh St, Christchurch
To register your attendance contact kaapua.smith@mfat.govt.nz or call (04) 439 8625
