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
Treaty Type:
Bilateral/Plurilateral
Common Name:
TiSA
Responsible Department:
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Administering Department:
Treaty Summary:
There are 24 participants in the TiSA negotiations, all members of the WTO: Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the European Union (representing the 28 EU countries), Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei), Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States
TiSA aims to update the rules agreed within The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) to reflect the new trading landscape. TiSA will only cover trade in services - it does not include trade in goods or other areas like intellectual property. A range of different service sectors are currently being discussed, including financial services, ICT services (including telecommunications and e-commerce), professional services, transport services, and temporary entry of business people.
NZ Adherence Status:
In Progress
Negotiation Status:
Suspended since 2017. Formal negotiations started in April 2013. There have been twenty one rounds of negotiations so far. The last round of negotiations was held in November 2016.
Organisation:
WTO
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 New Zealand Free Trade Agreements, New Zealand is seeking a specific provision, the Treaty of Waitangi exception clause, which would protect the Government's ability to adopt policies that fulfil its obligations to Māori, including under the Treaty of Waitangi.
Impacts on Stakeholders:
Public submissions were sought in 2013 to ensure stakeholders had the opportunity to make submissions on the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) negotiations. Consultations with interested groups are ongoing, and public information sessions were held in Wellington and Auckland in June 2016 and Christchurch and Dunedin in October 2016. Negotiators continue to welcome input from interested groups and will continue to engage as and when necessary. Further submissions are welcomed and can be made on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/agreements-under-negotiation/tisa/). Brief updates will be published on the website at the end of each round.
Link To Legislation:
Treaty Text Link:
Contact Information:
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