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AOTES will be incorporated into our existing bilateral Free Trade Agreement with Singapore and will commit both countries to not imposing export restrictions on an agreed list of goods.
In the face of global supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand and Singapore entered into a non-binding Joint Declaration in April 2020 to maintain supply chain continuity and ensure tariffs and other trade barriers were not imposed on essential goods.
In April 2022, the Singapore – New Zealand Supply Chain Working Group (SCWG) was announced by the Prime Ministers of Singapore and New Zealand.
On 10 October 2025 New Zealand and Singapore announced conclusion of negotiations.
On 4 May 2026, AOTES was signed by New Zealand Minister for Trade and Investment Hon Todd McClay and Singapore Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Dr Tan Lee Seng, in the margins of the inaugural Singapore-New Zealand Leadership Forum.
AOTES is a first-of-its-kind agreement to help maintain trade between New Zealand and Singapore during a crisis. The Agreement includes binding provisions preventing both governments from imposing export restrictions on an agreed list of goods, and does not undercut any existing commercial arrangements. Some of the essential supplies identified by New Zealand and Singapore include food, fuels, medical equipment and construction materials.
Following signature, AOTES will undergo domestic processes in both countries before entry into force.
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