NZ Customs Release

The New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into?force on 20 October 2026.

India's dynamic and fast-growing market offers significant opportunities for export growth and diversification for New Zealand companies.?

The FTA will deliver preferential access for exporters to the large and fast-growing Indian market for 95% of our current exports over time.

New Zealand importers claiming preferential tariff treatment under the FTA must obtain a Certificate of Origin (CoO) issued by an authorised body in India. The CoO should be obtained prior to claiming preference and must be retained after the import entry is submitted.

The CoO must be provided to New Zealand Customs upon request, to support the preference claim and demonstrate that the goods meet applicable origin requirements. The requirements around CoO can be found in reg 51ZZP of the Customs and Excise Regulations 1996 and Chapter 3 of the FTA.
 

The Comptroller of Customs has set the duration and rates for the next levy period for Customs' Border Processing Levy.

The new levy rates will apply from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2030 unless a decision is made to conduct a full review of the levy. Such a move would be a decision for the Minister of Customs to make and would require full public consultation. The earliest any amendments could be made would be July 2028. 

A new Approved Exporter Scheme application form is now available on Business Connect, making it easier for New Zealand exporters to apply to become an approved exporter and access benefits under eligible free trade agreements.

The online form enables exporters to apply to self-declare that their goods are of New Zealand origin under the following agreements:

China–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA)
New Zealand–United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (UAE CEPA)

Approved exporters do not need to obtain a Certificate of Origin for every shipment under these agreements. This can save businesses time and money, reduce administration, and help New Zealand goods reach overseas markets more efficiently.

Making the application available through Business Connect provides a simpler and more accessible process, with less manual handling and greater efficiency for exporters and Customs.

Visit the Customs website for more information on the Approved Exporter Scheme, including the link to the form and how to apply via Business Connect.

The ASEAN New Zealand Business Council is hosting a quick-fire panel of the key New Zealand Government agencies that support your export journey.

Exporting isn't for everyone – navigating rules of origin, tariff rates, standards, non-tariff barriers and free trade agreements - it can be hard to know where to get the help you need.

During the webinar, you will hear from several agencies, including New Zealand Customs, as they share the key ways to boost your exports into ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) markets.

This webinar will be hosted virtually via Microsoft Teams on 28 October 2026, 12:30 - 1:30 pm.