Minister for Home Affairs media release

Trans-Tasman trade study supports Single Economic Market initiatives - 10 November 2010

Brendan O’Connor, the Minister for Home Affairs and Maurice Williamson, Minister of Customs in New Zealand welcomed the release today of the first Trans-Tasman Time Release Study (TRS), conducted as a joint project by Customs and Border Protection with the New Zealand Customs Service.

The Trans-Tasman TRS measures the performance of Australian and New Zealand import and export clearance processes for cargo traded between the two countries.

The study found trade facilitation levels are high for both imports and exports on both sides of the Tasman and that arrangements made under the Australia New Zealand Closer Economic Trade Agreement (ANZCERTA) contribute to faster processing of trans-Tasman trade at the border.

Mr O’Connor said that the positive results and opportunities identified through this study will help Australia and New Zealand move towards economic integration.

“The outcomes of this study support the government’s intention to progress towards a Single Economic Market by reducing barriers at the border and identifying further opportunities to streamline trans-Tasman trade,” Mr O’Connor said.

“It also shows that trans-Tasman cooperation and collaboration contributes to effective trade facilitation providing significant benefits for business and the economy on both sides of the Tasman.”

The report suggests a number of opportunities to further improve border clearance performance through advance reporting, improved access to information for small to medium sized traders and regulatory harmonisation.

Customs and Border Protection and New Zealand Customs will continue to work together, with other border agencies and with industry, to pursue these opportunities for improvement.

The Trans-Tasman TRS is available on the Customs and Border Protection website.

Media Advisor: Kylie Skotnicki or you can call her on 0409 879 108