Signed in January 2025, the settlement establishes a strong framework to remove or cut back tariffs, streamline customs procedures, and foster deeper personal sector collaboration.
It additionally represents New Zealand’s first commerce settlement with a Center Jap nation, highlighting its significance for the nation’s financial engagement within the area.
UAE-New Zealand commerce to exceed $5bn by 2032
The CEPA is predicted to spice up annual bilateral commerce to greater than $5b by 2032, up from a mean of $1.5bn between 2019 and 2023.
Underneath the deal, New Zealand will present 100 per cent duty-free entry to imports from the UAE, whereas the United Arab Emirates will grant duty-free entry to 98.5 per cent of New Zealand merchandise.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of International Commerce, mentioned: “The ratification of the UAE–New Zealand CEPA marks a historic milestone in our financial partnership, fostering innovation and sustainable development for mutual profit.
“This settlement not solely enhances our commerce relations but in addition opens new avenues for funding and personal sector collaboration in key sectors corresponding to meals manufacturing, schooling, renewable power, and superior applied sciences.”
New Zealand’s Minister for Commerce and Funding, Todd McClay, mentioned: “This settlement marks a transformative second in New Zealand’s commerce historical past. The CEPA with the UAE not solely opens doorways for our exporters and traders but in addition displays our shared dedication to development.
“We look ahead to deepening our partnership throughout sectors that matter most to our folks—from meals and power to innovation and schooling.”
The CEPA programme is a central pillar of the nation’s international commerce technique, which goals to attain $1tn in whole commerce worth by 2031 and double the dimensions of the financial system to exceed $800bn by the identical yr.
Since its launch in September 2021, the UAE’s CEPA programme has concluded agreements with 28 international locations, offering UAE companies with enhanced entry to markets representing practically 1 / 4 of the world’s inhabitants.
The UAE–New Zealand CEPA now provides to this rising community of agreements, strengthening the United Arab Emirates’ function as a worldwide commerce hub and increasing alternatives for each nations in sectors starting from agri-food to expertise and renewable power.