Trade between New Zealand and Thailand is set to become
easier, bringing advantages to traders between the two
economies, thanks to a new Customs arrangement signed
yesterday (29 May 2023).
Christine Stevenson,
Comptroller and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs
Service, and Patchara Anuntasilpa, Director General of
Customs Department Thailand, signed the Mutual Recognition
Arrangement (MRA), at the World Customs Organization
regional heads meeting being held in Perth, Australia, this
week.
The arrangement recognises the Customs supply
chain security standards of both countries and promotes
market access for exporters between them.
Thailand is
the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia and New
Zealand’s tenth largest trading partner, with two-way
trade worth $4.4 billion for the year ended June 2022. Many
products are exported to Thailand tariff-free. This
arrangement strengthens this well-established trading
relationship by fast-tracking high-security
exporters.
Comptroller Christine Stevenson welcomed
the formalisation of close relations with Thai Customs
officials, saying this will ensure many benefits to our
trusted traders.
“Our respective Customs agencies
now have assurance that goods from accredited traders meet
high standards of supply chain security. This will mean
fewer checks of their shipments as they pass through both
borders, helping their goods get to market
faster.”
“Speeding up exports gives kiwi
businesses a competitive edge, and both Customs agencies can
focus our efforts on working to identify bigger risks across
our borders,” she said.
Patchara Anuntasilpa,
Director-General of the Customs Department of the Kingdom of
Thailand, said “This marks a significant milestone for
Thailand and New Zealand toward enhancing international
supply chain security and facilitating trade between two
Customs Administrations.
“The established mutual
standard will encourage relevant business operators from
both countries to benefit from faster and more efficient
customs procedures which will ultimately result in their
stronger competitiveness and easier access to global
market.”
MRAs enable accredited businesses in
signatory territories to operate under Authorised Economic
Operator (AEO) partnership programmes.
New Zealand’s
programme has 142 export businesses, representing about 65
percent of New Zealand’s export trade to MRA territories,
and 50 percent of all exports.
New Zealand has Mutual
Recognition Arrangements with Australia, Canada, China, Hong
Kong, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, the
United Kingdom and United States of America.
More
information about Mutual Recognition Arrangements is
available from www.customs.govt.nz/ses.
