New Zealand is party to 14 free trade agreements (FTAs) worldwide. Together they accounted for over 70% of New Zealand's trade in 2023.
History
Prior to the mid-twentieth century, New Zealand's trade was dominated by the United Kingdom which provided preferential trade quotas to her former colony. As the United Kingdom attempted to join the European Economic Community in the 1960s and move away from trade with former colonies, New Zealand sought to diversify international trade. Following this, New Zealand signed its first bilateral free trade agreement in 1965 with the New Zealand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (later superseded by Closer Economic Relations in 1983). When the United Kingdom eventually joined the European Economic Community in 1973, exceptions for New Zealand allowed the United Kingdom's preferential trade offerings to be phased out until the 1990s.
Economic liberalisation in the 1970s made New Zealand into a market economy dependent on international trade especially in tourism and agricultural sectors. New Zealand has since welcomed foreign investment and has been praised as one of the most business-friendly countries in the world.
Since the 1990s, New Zealand has pursued free trade agreements as part of international trade policy with a goal (as of 2024) of 90% of exports covered by FTAs by 2030. New Zealand signed bilateral free trade agreements throughout the Asia-Pacific region through the 2000s including with significant trading partners China and the ASEAN bloc. Free trade agreements have expanded in the 2010s and 2020s with New Zealand's participation in wide multilateral FTAs including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Free trade agreements in force New Zealand has bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements with the following blocs and countries:
Bilateral agreements
Closer Economic Relations (1983)
New Zealand and Singapore Closer Economic Partnership (2001)
NZ-Thailand Closer Economic Partnership (2005) : New Zealand and Thailand Closer Economic Partnership (2005)
New Zealand–China Free Trade Agreement (2008) (2008)
Malaysia–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (2009)
Hong Kong–New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (2011)
ANZTEC (2013) : Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (2013)
NZ-Korea Free Trade Agreement (2015)
New Zealand–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (2023)
New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement (2024)
NZ-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (2025) : New Zealand–United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (NZ-UAE CEPA) (2025)
Multilateral agreements
Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPSEP) (2005) Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement between Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore – P4 ASEAN Australia NZ FTA (2009), with:
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) (2018), with:
(2024)
PACER Plus (2020), with:
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) (2022), with:
Agreements not yet in force Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), negotiations concluded in 2024 but have not yet been signed, with:
: Negotiations began in 2007 and concluded in 2009 but never signed. Agreed to resume negotiating in 2022. Signed in October 2024.
New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement
In 2008, New Zealand and India commenced negotiations on a free trade agreement. Following years of negotiation, the two states signed a free trade agreement on 27 April 2026. On 17 September 2026, the New Zealand Parliament passed legislation implementing the free trade agreement. On 21 September, the two governments formally ratified the New Zealand-India free trade agreement, which will come into effect on 20 October 2026.
Free trade agreements under negotiation
New Zealand is negotiating bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements with the following blocs and countries:
Pacific Alliance: Free trade agreement negotiating since 2017. Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, under negotiation since 2021 with:
Abandoned or superseded proposals
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): signed and ratified but never entered into force, superseded by the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. : Conducted a feasibility study in 2008. Superseded as Japan joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. : New Zealand-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement. Negotiations began in 2010 and ended without a deal before 2024. , and : Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus Free Trade Agreement – negotiations began in 2010 and were later suspended. : New Zealand–United States Free Trade Agreement. Negotiations began in 2008 but were ended in favour of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (which the United States would withdraw from).
See also List of the largest trading partners of New Zealand Economy of New Zealand Free trade agreements of Australia Free trade agreements of the United Kingdom Free trade agreements of the United States
References
External links New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Official site Ministry of Economic Development New Zealand – Official site Tariff Finder, Ministry of Foreign Affarirs and Trade – Tool to find export and import tariffs