- Negotiations
Negotiations on this free trade agreement between the 10 ASEAN governments and those of Australia and New Zealand were concluded in Singapore in August 2008. The agreement was subsequently signed in February 2009 and came into force on 1 January 2010.
The ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA) envisions a regional common market by 2015, and marks the first time that Australia and New Zealand have been involved jointly in negotiating an FTA with third countries. It was also the first time ASEAN embarked on comprehensive FTA negotiations covering all sectors, including goods, services, investment and intellectual property, simultaneously.
The Textile Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia opposed the deal because of the impact of further trade liberalization on these manufacturing sectors and workers in Australia, and human rights concerns regarding Burma. Both the Green Party of New Zealand and human rights activists raised concerns about agreements with some ASEAN governments because of their human rights records. In the ASEAN countries, numerous activist groups also protested the rush into this FTA, especially during a global economic crisis that is hitting local workers hard.
last update: May 2012
Photo: Daveandlolo/CC BY 2.0
30-Mar-2023
The Guardian
Clive Palmer’s Singapore-based company Zeph Investments is suing Australia for $296bn, enlisting the help of former attorney general Christian Porter in a landmark case arguing a breach of the Asean free trade deal.
22-Feb-2023
Vietnam+
The Joint Committee (FJC) for the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) agreement has completed the negotiations for upgrading the plurilateral free trade deal at its recent 20th meeting in Indonesia.
6-Feb-2023
AFTINET
The AFTINET submission provides evidence of the harmful use of ISDS over the last decade against public regulation on health, indigenous rights, the environment and most recently against policies to reduce carbon emissions.
22-Nov-2022
Business Times
ASEAN member states, Australia and New Zealand have substantially concluded negotiations to upgrade a free trade agreement (FTA), which will include new features to ensure the continued flow of essential goods during times of crisis.
20-Sep-2022
Mirage News
ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand have progressed negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA).
7-Apr-2022
Phnom Penh Post
Cambodia has been accelerating negotiations on remaining issues to revamp the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) to meet its 2022 year-end deadline.
7-Jun-2021
The Edge Markets
Malaysia and New Zealand have agreed on upgrading the regional ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA (AANZFTA), which is undergoing a comprehensive review, Senior Minister cum International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said.
18-Dec-2020
The Guardian
Australian taxpayers could be on the hook for compensation following a dispute between the Western Australian government and Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy, federal budget papers reveal.
10-May-2013
ASEAN trade officials, along with its six partners, kicked off talks on a regional trade agreement in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, on Thursday. The talks began with the establishment of the trade negotiating committee that would discuss various trade and investment issues until next Monday, Trade Ministry director general for international trade cooperation Iman Pambagyo said.
20-Apr-2012
Despite the free trade agreement between New Zealand and Indonesia which came into force early this year there is still much to do to remove barriers to trade between the two countries, Prime Minister John Key says.
