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South-East Asia stretches from Burma in the west to the Philippines in the East and is home to more than 500 million people.
Many of New Zealand’s relationships with South East Asian countries were formed after the Second World War through the education-focused Colombo Plan and defence connections. Today, the linkages are much more wide-ranging and include not only education and defence but also science and technology, tourism and agricultural cooperation, as well as the people-to-people bonds forged by migration and tourism.
Trade and economic links With South East Asia are important. The region contains three of our top 10 trading partners (Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are fifth, seventh and tenth respectively) and accounts for around 11 percent of our merchandise exports (NZ $4.7 billion) and 16 percent of imports (NZ $7.6 billion). Our total trade with these countries is now not far behind our total trade with the European Union.
New Zealand and South East Asia are natural trading partners, with primary produce (dairy products, meat) from New Zealand being ‘exchanged’ for oil and manufactured goods (machinery, electronics).
The value of New Zealand’s merchandise exports to Southeast Asian countries has more than doubled in the last five years.
New Zealand became a ‘dialogue partner’ of ASEAN in 1974. We also work closely with South East Asian countries in groupings such as APEC, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the United Nations.
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Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership
The Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP) between New Zealand, Chile, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam entered into force for New Zealand and Singapore in May 2006 and for Chile in November 2006. The Agreement has provisionally applied to Brunei since June 2006.
On 22 September 2008, the United States announced it would to join negotiations on an expanded Trans-Pacific Partnership. Australia, Peru and Viet Nam also intend to participate in negotiations. The first round of negotiations was scheduled to take place in March 2009, but has been postponed to allow the US Administration time to conduct a general review of US trade policy.
Negotiations on a Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) agreement between New Zealand and Thailand entered into force in July 2005. In parallel with the CEP, New Zealand and Thailand have negotiated arrangements on labour, the environment and customs cooperation.
The agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership entered into force on 1 January 2001. Except for Closer Economic Relations with Australia, it is the most comprehensive trading agreement that New Zealand has negotiated.
ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand
Leaders from ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand agreed in 2004 to launch negotiations for a free trade agreement involving the 10 countries of ASEAN and Australia and New Zealand. The agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) was signed in February 2009 in Thailand, and is expected to enter into force later in 2009. See also the ASEAN-Australia-NZ Free Trade Agreement website
New Zealand and Malaysia substantively concluded negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement in May 2008. The agreement is expected to be signed later in 2009.
New Zealand development assistance to South East Asia is provided through the New Zealand Agency for International development (NZAID).
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