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The Agreement 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.
The Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies would build on these existing frameworks and include binding provisions that would, among other things, prevent both governments from imposing export restrictions on an agreed list of goods. This would be a negotiated list covering essential goods from both New Zealand and Singapore.
This Agreement would help maintain trade between the two countries in those essential goods during a crisis and would not undercut any existing commercial arrangements.
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Have your say on the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies
We consulted New Zealanders throughout the negotiation process on what they wanted to see in the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies. Those views helped inform our overall approach in negotiations.
We asked:
- What goods from New Zealand should or should not be included in the annex of the Agreement?
- What goods should New Zealand request from Singapore to be included in the annex?
- What other provisions do you think New Zealand should focus on in this Agreement?
- Do we have permission to contact you in the future if we conduct additional consultation related to this?
Although the initial formal consultation period has closed, we welcome feedback and views.
How to share your views
Email: AOTES@mfat.govt.nz
Mail:
AOTES Coordinator
Economic Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Private Bag 18-901, Wellington
What we do with your views
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.