Explanatory note
This note is not part of the regulations, but is intended to indicate their general effect.
Under the Tariff Act 1988, duty is imposed on imported goods. The duty is collected by the New Zealand Customs Service under the Customs and Excise Act 2018. Different rates of duty apply to goods depending on their place of origin. Preferential rates apply to countries with which New Zealand has free-trade agreements and that are recognised in the principal regulations.
Goods originating in Singapore are entitled to a preferential rate because New Zealand and Singapore entered into a free-trade agreement in 2000. That agreement was amended by protocol done at Singapore on 17 May 2019. Those amendments will come into force on 1 January 2020. Chapter 3 and Annex 3.1 of the amended agreement set out rules of origin (including product-specific rules and other applicable requirements) for goods imported to New Zealand from Singapore under the Singapore CEP Agreement.
These regulations amend the principal regulations so that those rules of origin are incorporated by reference.
The full titles of the agreements between New Zealand and Singapore are—
the Agreement between Singapore and New Zealand on a Closer Economic Partnership done at Singapore on 14 November 2000; and
the Protocol to Amend the Agreement between Singapore and New Zealand on a Closer Economic Partnership done at Singapore on 17 May 2019.
The rules of origin (which are incorporated into the regulations from Chapter 3 and Annex 3.1) are also available—
in accordance with section 52 of the Legislation Act 2012 (as applied by section 412(3) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018).
Regulatory impact assessment
A regulatory impact assessment is not required for these regulations because a national interest analysis was prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 15 November 2018 relating to the making of the Protocol to amend the Singapore CEP Agreement.
Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2012.
Date of notification in Gazette: 12 December 2019.
These regulations are administered by the New Zealand Customs Service.