New Zealand-EU customs agreement facilitates faster custom clearance: minister

WELLINGTON, May 1 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and the European Union have completed the process to bring the Customs Cooperation Agreement into force this month, Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri said here on Tuesday.

"The agreement also represents a significant first step in setting up a mutually recognized secure trade scheme between New Zealand and the EU," Whaitiri said, adding that it will give accredited New Zealand exporters a major advantage in the form of faster clearance of goods into the European market.

This agreement strengthens cooperation between New Zealand the EU in terms of customs procedures, supply chain security and risk management, she said.

It also enables both customs authorities to learn from each other on customs technology, she added. Enditem