Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade | 195 Lambton Quay, Private Bag 18 901, Wellington 5045, New Zealand
Ph +64 4 439 8000, | Email:info at mfat.govt.nz
New Zealand - United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
Treaty Type:
Bilateral/Plurilateral
Common Name:
NZ-UAE CEPA
Responsible Department:
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Administering Department:
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Treaty Summary:
The negotiations on a New Zealand-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) concluded in just over four months, making this New Zealand’s fastest-ever FTA negotiation.
Key outcomes include:
- An important expansion of New Zealand’s free trade agreement network into the Middle East for the first time, providing new opportunities and certainty for traders.
- New Zealand will have the best-available access to the UAE market, with 99% of New Zealand goods exporters able to access the market duty-free, almost all at entry into force. This includes all New Zealand’s dairy, meat, horticulture and industrial products immediately from day one.
- Complementing this is a package of trade-facilitative rules that will ensure exporters can easily take advantage of the tariff preferences, as well as on digital trade, non-tariff barriers, intellectual property and competition.
- The CEPA will also provide our services exporters with transparent, non-discriminatory rules that will ensure a level playing field. Commitments on key sectors of interest for New Zealand, including professional services, education services, and the audio-visual and gaming sectors, will ensure our exporters receive no less favourable treatment to domestic UAE companies, and in many cases better treatment that that afforded to other foreign service suppliers.
- The UAE is a key export destination and hub in the Gulf region, and there are significant opportunities to enhance cooperation across areas, including agriculture and sustainable energy, aviation and maritime sectors.
- A Bilateral Investment Treaty, concluded in conjunction with the CEPA, will promote and protect investment, supporting economic growth and prosperity, while ensuring the right to regulate is protected. Consistent with New Zealand’s existing policy settings, the Agreement will not contain Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions.
- The agreement includes provisions that reflect the opportunities for Māori of the agreement, and including by reducing regulatory barriers Māori businesses may encounter. As with our other trade agreements, the Treaty of Waitangi exception is included.
- Consistent with New Zealand’s long-standing trade and environment and trade and labour frameworks, the Agreement also contains a chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development, to promotes the interests of women and protects labour rights and climate change laws and regulations.
NZ Adherence Status:
In Progress
Negotiation Status:
The NZ-UAE CEPA and BIT were signed on 14 January 2025.
Organisation:
Is Signed By NZ:
No
Signature Date:
Ratified or Signed:
No
Requires Ratification:
No
NZ Territorial Applications:
None
Information about required Legislation:
Impacts on Maori:
As with other New Zealand Free Trade Agreements, The Treaty of Waitangi exception, included in all of New Zealand’s contemporary FTAs, allows the New Zealand Government to implement domestic policies that accord more favourable treatment to Māori, including in fulfilment of its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, provided that such policies do not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustified discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade. New Zealand has also negotiated a dedicated Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Chapter. New Zealand as also ensured that other chapters, including those on Digital Trade and Intellectual Property, preserve policy space for protection of Māori rights, interests, duties and responsibilities.
Impacts on Stakeholders:
Regular consultations have been held with business and other stakeholders such as the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand, the NZ Council of Trade Unions, New Zealand Winegrowers and Red Meat New Zealand.
Link To Legislation:
Treaty Text Link:
Contact Information:
If you would like more information about this Treaty please contact us using our contact form.