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AANZFTA

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


Indonesia, Australia to speed up ASEAN-ANZ free trade
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).
RI expects to finalize negotiations on FTA with Australia next year
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.
RI asks Australia, New Zealand to open their textile markets
Indonesia has asked Australia and New Zealand to open their textile and textile product markets under a free trade arrangement (FTA) with ASEAN.
ASEAN committed to free trade pact with Australia, NZ: minister
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.
President Nathan says talks on ASEAN-Aust-NZ FTA to conclude in May
Talks on the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be concluded next month, said Singapore President SR Nathan at a state banquet at the New Zealand Government House in Wellington on Monday.
Minister: New Zealand-ASEAN free trade deal close
New Zealand Trade Minister Phil Goff said on Wednesday that free trade talks with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) may be finished by June.
ASEAN must make trade offer: NZ PM Clark
South-East Asian nations need to put a better offer on the table if they want a free trade deal with Australia and New Zealand, Prime Minister Helen Clark says.
Calls to scrap ASEAN trade deal over Burma
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union says the Federal Government should cease Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) free trade negotiations immediately, in line with Burma sanctions.
Asean eyes completion of FTA talks with Australia, New Zealand in ’08
Asean economic ministers said while "considerable progress" has been made on the proposed comprehensive FTA with Australia-New Zealand, concluding talks this year is unlikely because the next phase of the negotiations "would be critical and intense."
ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand move closer to free trade agreement
Negotiations for an ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand free trade agreement will resume in Wellington in March.

    Links


  • AANZFTA website
    Official website of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand free trade agreement