- Negotiations
Negotiations on this free trade agreement between the 10 ASEAN governments and those of Australia and New Zealand were concluded in Singapore in August 2008. The agreement was subsequently signed in February 2009 and came into force on 1 January 2010.
The ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA) envisions a regional common market by 2015, and marks the first time that Australia and New Zealand have been involved jointly in negotiating an FTA with third countries. It was also the first time ASEAN embarked on comprehensive FTA negotiations covering all sectors, including goods, services, investment and intellectual property, simultaneously.
The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia opposed the deal because of the impact of further trade liberalization on these manufacturing sectors and workers in Australia, and human rights concerns regarding Burma. Both the Green Party of New Zealand and human rights activists raised concerns about agreements with some ASEAN governments because of their human rights records. In the ASEAN countries, numerous activist groups also protested the rush into this FTA, especially during a global economic crisis that is hitting local workers hard.
last update: May 2012
Photo: Daveandlolo/CC BY 2.0
25-Aug-2008
AFP
ASEAN is set this week to finalise a free trade agreement with India and hold talks with Australia and New Zealand, signalling the importance of regional pacts amid fading hopes for a global trading regime.
17-Aug-2008
Manila Bulletin
The Philippines is pushing the development of local dairy industry as its counter-offer to the 100 percent tariff cut on the same products asked by Australia and New Zealand under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand free trade agreement.
18-Jul-2008
AFP
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is expected to endorse a continued push for free trade agreements with Australia & New Zealand, the EU and India during talks this weekend, a draft document said Friday.
11-Jul-2008
The Edge Daily
The ongoing negotiations on the free trade agreement (FTA) between Asean countries and Australia-New Zealand (ANZ) are expected to be concluded in the near term, said Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
11-Jul-2008
Stuff
Indonesia’s ban on New Zealand beef could threaten plans to sign a lucrative free-trade pact with South-east Asian nations this year, industry officials say.
4-Jul-2008
Earth Times
A New Zealand business group warned the government Friday against signing a free trade pact with the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) that did not set a timetable for abolishing duties on meat and dairy products.
14-Jun-2008
Jakarta Post
Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, and Australia pledged Friday to help accelerate a negotiation to secure a free-trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nation, Australia and New Zealand (AANZ-FTA).
13-Jun-2008
Indonesia hopes to complete its bilateral negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Australia in 2009 if talks on FTA at ASEAN level (including Australia and New Zealand) are concluded this year, Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said.
13-May-2008
Indonesia has asked Australia and New Zealand to open their textile and textile product markets under a free trade arrangement (FTA) with ASEAN.
5-May-2008
AFP
ASEAN was showing strong commitment to try to wrap up negotiations on a free trade pact between the regional grouping, Australia and New Zealand, Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean said Sunday.
