Information for exporters

New market opportunities

CPTPP gives New Zealand exporters preferential access for the first time to the world’s third-largest economy, Japan, as well as Mexico, Canada and Peru, allowing New Zealand exporters to be more competitive in those markets.

The agreement is in force for all original signatories:

• Japan (from 30 December 2018)
• Mexico (from 30 December 2018)
• Canada (from 30 December 2018)
• Australia (from 30 December 2018)
• Singapore (from 30 December 2018)
• Viet Nam (from 14 January 2019)
• Peru (from 19 September 2021)
• Malaysia (from 29 November 2022)
• Chile (from 21 February 2023)
• Brunei Darussalam (from 12 July 2023)
• United Kingdom
  • The Protocol will enter into force after the UK and all the CPTPP Parties have ratified it, or after 15 months if the UK and a majority of the CPTPP Parties have ratified it.

Services exporter tool

The Services Exporter Tool(external link) is designed to give services exporters an overview of the regulations and rules they may face when doing business in various Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) countries. This information aims to help you understand what treatment you are entitled to under the CPTPP, including whether any requirements or barriers you may encounter are consistent with that country’s obligations under the agreement. This tool currently covers trade with countries that have joined the CPTPP*, and provides information on the rules each Party has agreed to and any specific sectors, policy or regulation they have decided to carve out from some or all of those rules. 

What tariffs apply to my exports?

Overall, the Agreement has the potential to deliver an estimated NZ$222 million of tariff savings annually once fully in force.

To find out what tariff rates, rules of origin and additional documentation is required for your specific export, use the online Tariff Finder tool(external link) or download full country-specific tariff schedules (under the heading Annexes to the Chapters).

When do tariff cuts take effect?

New Zealand exporters received an immediate tariff cut into the first five CPTPP markets on 30 December 2018 and another tariff cut on 1 January 2019, except for Japan where the second tariff cut will take place on 1 April 2019. Tariff cuts will then occur annually including Viet Nam, Peru and Malaysia which both ratified the Agreement later.

When the Agreement entered into force for Viet Nam on 14 January 2019, New Zealand exporters received an immediate double tariff cut for exports into Viet Nam. Viet Nam’s next tariff cut occurred on 1 January 2020 in line with others, except Japan.

When the Agreement entered into force for Peru on 19 September 2021, New Zealand exporters received an immediate tariff cut for exports into Peru starting from ‘Year 4’ in Peru’s tariff schedule (not ‘Year 1’).

When the Agreement entered into force for Malaysia on 29 November 2022, New Zealand exporters received an immediate tariff cut for exports into Malaysia starting from ‘Year 5’ in Malaysia’s tariff schedule (not ‘Year 1’).

When the Agreement entered into force for Brunei on 12 July 2023, New Zealand exporters received an immediate tariff cut for exports into Brunei starting from ‘Year 6’ in Brunei’s tariff schedule (not ‘Year 1’).

For details of tariff cuts by country, see table below. Details of each country’s tariffs are set out in their tariff schedules – and in the Tariff Finder(external link). Fact sheets on the CPTPP goods market access outcomes are also available.

How to claim CPTPP preference

Independently verified Certificates of Origin are not required to claim a CPTPP tariff preference. Instead, CPTPP Parties will accept a declaration (or certification of origin) from the producer, exporter or importer of a good. This declaration may be provided in electronic form.

There is no prescribed form for this declaration/certification, but a template [DOCX, 19 KB] to help you meet these requirements is available. Any declaration must contain the following minimum data elements as set out in Annex 3-B [PDF, 172 KB] of the Agreement:

• The name and status (importer/producer/exporter) of the certifying person, including contact details
• Name and contact details of importer if known
• Name and contact details of exporter if known
• Name and contact details of producer, if different from the certifier or exporter
• The six-digit tariff classification(s) under the Harmonised System and a description of the good
• The rule of origin under which the good qualifies for preference
• Invoice number, if known, where the certification covers a single shipment
• In the case of a blanket declaration that will cover multiple importations of identical goods within 12 months, the period that the origin declaration covers.
• The certification must be signed and dated by the certifier and accompanied by the following statement: I certify that the goods described in this document qualify as originating and the information contained in this document is true and accurate. I assume responsibility for proving such representations and agree to maintain and present upon request or to make available during a verification visit, documentation necessary to support this certification.

You can read more about the specific Customs requirements [PDF, 44 KB] or the wider CPTPP trade facilitation provisions.

Ensuring benefits are shared

The Government is committed to ensuring the benefits from the CPTPP contribute to New Zealand’s sustainable and inclusive economic development and:

• are felt in the regions
• support small and medium enterprises
• grow the Māori economy
• extend to women in the workforce and business.

Alongside the signing of the CPTPP, New Zealand, Canada and Chile issued a Joint declaration on Fostering Progressive and Inclusive Trade [PDF, 112 KB], which commits all three economies to ensuring the benefits of trade and investment are shared.

Questions?

You can email us at exports@mfat.net or ring MFAT’s exporter helpline 0800 824 605.