Trusted traders to benefit from New Zealand-Australia customs pact
Xinhua, July 19, 2016 Adjust font size:
Trusted exporters will see their goods fast-tracked through customs processing under a new agreement between Australia and New Zealand, the two countries' customs services announced Tuesday.
The Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection and New Zealand Customs had signed a mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) to recognize the supply chain security programs of both countries.
The arrangement would benefit members of the Australian Trusted Trader program and the New Zealand Customs Secure Export Scheme.
New Zealand Customs comptroller Carolyn Tremain said the arrangement would provide further assurance over trans-Tasman trade for both countries.
"The MRA means New Zealand's Secure Export Scheme members will benefit from a faster and smoother border experience with our closest neighbor, and gives traders on both sides of the Tasman a competitive advantage," Tremain said in a statement.
Australian Border Force commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg said the arrangement would allow 3 billion NZ dollars (2.11 billion U.S. dollars) of New Zealand exports 7.5 billion NZ dollars (5.27 billion U.S. dollars) of Australian exports to benefit from the MRA by 2020.
"Reducing the regulatory duplication between the two schemes will make it easier for Australian and New Zealand businesses to trade with each other and boost the international competitiveness of both countries," Quaedvlieg said in the statement. Endit