As New Zealand has negotiated and implemented new free trade agreements this has seen tariffs, costs associated with tariffs or duties on exported products reduce significantly, but non-tariff barriers (NTBs) have increased in prominence.
What are non-tariff barriers?
Non-tariff barriers are rules that unfairly restrict or distort trade. They make it costly or expensive to export and may be intended to favour domestic producers over competitors from other markets. Governments refer to them as NTBs but businesses often describe them as red tape, bureaucratic rules, or hassles.
NTBs can arise with any type of export, from food to digital goods and services.
Some examples include:
- Procurement rules, e.g. requirements to buy goods from local producers.
- Prohibitions or import bans.
- Quantity restrictions, e.g. quotas limiting the amount of a product that can be sold.
- Rules for a company to have a certain percentage of local directors.
- Subsidies, e.g. money given to domestic producers that makes it harder for importers to compete.
- Technical standards, e.g. product labelling requirements, testing procedures, or certifications.
Your views can help inform how New Zealand engages in these negotiations.
Why do we need this Arrangement?
Solving NTBS is complex and requires a multi-pronged strategy. Some barriers can be resolved through technical discussions alone. Other measures imposed on our exports require a combination of approaches coupled with escalation strategies to get traction.
New Zealand is taking a fresh approach to this problem through negotiating an open plurilateral – this means an Arrangement that’s open to multiple countries to join if they choose to - that would bring together economies interested in promoting free and open trade.
The Arrangement would be legally non-binding (less than treaty level) and designed to be as flexible as possible.
In practice, members of this Arrangement would use it to share lists of NTBs (with any commercially sensitive information removed), best practices in their resolution, and coordinate diplomatic efforts to address non-tariff barriers in third party markets.
When members cooperate to address an NTB they will be expected to report back on their experience and any lessons learnt to the wider group. Members of the Arrangement will be free to decide which NTBs they do and do not collaborate on based on an assessment of their interests.
Have your say on the NTB Plurilateral
As we move forward in the negotiation process, we are interested in what New Zealanders want to see in this Arrangement. Your views will help inform our overall approach as we participate in negotiations.
In particular we are interested to hear from New Zealanders on:
- What types of NTBs are exporters facing that this Arrangement could help address?
- What countries should New Zealand work with?
- What other issues do you think New Zealand should focus on in this Arrangement?
- Do we have permission to contact you in the future if we conduct additional consultation related to this Arrangement?
Share your views
Please share your views or submission by 1 July 2025.
Email: ntb.plurilateral@mfat.govt.nz
Mail:
NTB Plurilateral Coordinator
Economic Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Private Bag 18-901, Wellington
What happens next
As part of ongoing consultations, the views of New Zealanders are collated and reported to Ministers. Officials take those views into account when setting their negotiating positions.
Please be aware that all responses may be subject to release under the Official Information Act 1982. No personal or identifiable information will be released as part of a response.