Technical barriers to trade
Standards, regulations and conformity assessment procedures can act as technical barriers to trade (TBT).
The NZ-China FTA aims to reduce unnecessary TBT between New Zealand and China by encouraging cooperation between relevant officials, regulators and technical experts.
Both countries are encouraged to accept each other's technical regulations as equivalent, and to accept the result of each other's procedures for sampling, testing and inspecting products (conformity assessment procedures).
THE NZ-China FTA establishes a Joint TBT Committee to work towards joint standards and regulations.
If a TBT dispute arises, members can use either the dispute settlement provisions under the FTA or those available through the WTO.
Businesses facing standards and conformance problems when exporting to China should contact the Ministry of Economic Development [external link]
Mutual Recognition Agreement on Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Components (MRA)
- Page last updated: 03 December 2008
