E9 Trade Commitments

1. One of the objectives of New Zealand's temporary entry policy is to contribute to building strong international links. Part of this includes supporting New Zealand's position in a global trade environment, and ensuring that New Zealand's trade commitments with respect to immigration are being met.
2. Immigration plays an important role in ensuring New Zealand's trade commitments are met through operational policy providing for the mobility (temporary entry) of bona fide business people into New Zealand.
3. New Zealand has committed itself to a range of undertakings through different agreements. To date the following agreements have been signed:
   • General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
   • New Zealand/Singapore Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
   • New Zealand and Thailand Closer Economic Partnership
   • Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership
   • Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
4. Details of these trade agreements are available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at the following address:

   http://www.mfat.govt.nz/foreign/tnd/marketaccess/tradeinservices

5. Specific provisions throughout the Operational Manual enable New Zealand to meet the commitments that have been made in these trade agreements. These provisions are:
   • A4.65.1 Seconded business people
   • V3.5 Business visitors
   • V3.105 APEC Business Travel Cardholders
   • WG5.20 Thai chefs
   • WS2(a) Specific purposes or events

Effective 24/04/2006