New Zealand–Thailand Closer Economic Partnership Agreement

The Thailand CEP is designed to improve the business environment between New Zealand and Thailand, reduce the cost of doing business, and promote cooperation between Customs administrations.

Thailand is also a Party to the AANZFTA Agreement. Traders should consider which agreement is most suitable to their imported/exported products.

For information on the Rules of Origin and using this agreement, see Fact Sheet 30 – Thailand Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (PDF, 262 KB). Further information on the Thailand CEP is also available on the MFAT website.

Claiming Preference in New Zealand

An NZ importer may make a claim for preferential tariff treatment on the basis of a certificate of origin, a declaration of origin, or other evidence sufficient to prove that the goods satisfy the relevant rules of origin provisions. If requested by Customs, an importer claiming preference must be able to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate the claim.

Rules of Origin Provisions

Customs and Excise Act 1996 (NZ Legislation).

Product Specific Rules

• Annex 2 Thailand: New Zealand Goods containing non-originating materials (PDF, 2.81 MB)
• Annex 2 Thailand: New Zealand Goods containing non-originating materials (2022) (PDF, 2.9 MB)

Claiming Preference in Thailand

Unlike AANZFTA, goods exported from NZ to Thailand under the Thailand CEP do not require a certificate of origin from an NZ certification body. A claim that goods are eligible for preferential tariff treatment must be supported by an exporter or producer declaration (further information is set out in Fact Sheet 30 (PDF, 262 KB).

Where the existing declarations provided in Fact Sheet 30 can be used, they should be used. However, additions can be made to the declaration statement agreed in the exchange of letters to specify the relationship between parties in the transaction. 

In cases where the declaration statement cannot be used, such as in the case of third-party invoicing where the declarant is not an authorised agent of the producer, or the producer of the good is not known, Article 4.5 (4)(b) of the Thailand CEP can be used to claim preference.

Article 4.5(4)(b) of the Thailand CEP allows for sufficient documentary or other evidence to be provided to substantiate the origin of the goods. A claim for preference under 4.5(4)(b) of the Thailand CEP must include a statement that affirms:

• that the goods originate in NZ or Thailand under the Thailand – New Zealand CEP; and
• that the goods meet the origin conferring criteria under Article 4.2.1 (if the goods are wholly obtained, Article 4.2.1(a) should be referenced, if the goods are partly produced, Article 4.2.1(b) should be referenced).

The statement can be made by any exporter, producer, or other competent person, public or private body that has sufficient knowledge to make the statement.