Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | 195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18 901, Wellington 5045, New Zealand
Ph +64 4 439 8000, | Email:info at mfat.govt.nz
Treaty Type:
Bilateral/Plurilateral
Common Name:
GCC/NZ FTA
Responsible Department:
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Administering Department:
Treaty Summary:
New Zealand and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC, a regional economic grouping comprising Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman) concluded substantive FTA negotiations after six rounds on 31 October 2009.
The GCC is New Zealand’s 8th largest trading partner (with the UAE and Saudi Arabia being the key markets). In 2017, New Zealand goods and services exports to the GCC totalled NZ$1.98 billion and total two-way trade was worth NZ$4.66 billion. The GCC countries are our seventh largest export destination. While New Zealand's major exports to the region are dominated by primary sector products such as dairy, sheep meat, and wood there is increasingly a strong interest in critical services areas such as ICT, education, environmental and professional services.
The FTA will provide a strong platform for export growth into the GCC region. Potential benefits of the FTA include:
- better market access for New Zealand businesses in the Gulf region;
- elimination of tariffs for exporters;
- better procedures for dealing with non-tariff barriers to trade such as sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, customs procedures and rules of origin;
- increased opportunities for New Zealand’s service sector in areas such as information and communications technology, education services, architecture and engineering services, consultancies, legal services, environmental services and construction;
- potential for more investment between the countries.
NZ Adherence Status:
In Progress
Negotiation Status:
Negotiations on the NZ GCC FTA started in 2007 and were substantially concluded in October 2009 but due to a moratorium on FTAs put in place by the GCC and other political developments the agreement was never finalised nor signed. Following the Minister of Trade and Export Growth’s visit to the region in March 2022, the GCC and New Zealand have now agreed to reengage in negotiations. These discussions will be based on the text agreed in 2009, with a focus on goods market access and labour and environment outcomes.
Organisation:
Is Signed By NZ:
No
Signature Date:
Ratified or Signed:
No
Requires Ratification:
No
NZ Territorial Applications:
None
Information about required Legislation:
The timing of legislation related to the FTA is not yet clear and will depend on the agreed date for signature.
Impacts on Maori:
As with other New Zealand Free Trade Agreements, New Zealand has sought a specific provision, the Treaty of Waitangi exception clause, which would protect the Government's ability to adopt policies that fulfil its obligations to Maori, including under the Treaty of Waitangi.
Impacts on Stakeholders:
Regular consultations have been held with business and other stakeholders. Further updates will be provided if progress on the FTA becomes likely.
Link To Legislation:
Treaty Text Link:
Contact Information:
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