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Taxation and Customs Union

The EU and New Zealand signed an Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters on 3 July 2017.

The agreement

  • provides a comprehensive framework for the EU and New Zealand to cooperate in the area of customs with the objective of ensuring effective controls while facilitating legitimate trade;
  • promotes modern and simple procedures in order to save time and money in getting goods through customs;
  • helps to protect people by stopping harmful or illegal goods reaching the European market.

The EU and New Zealand will work closely together to prevent, investigate and combat any customs violations and ensure that legislation is being properly applied.

Background Information

New Zealand ranked as the 49th largest trading partner of the EU in 2016 while the EU represented New Zealand's second largest trading partner after Australia. Total trade in goods amounted to €8.1 bn.

Pie chart with information on Trade between the EU and New-Zealand

Useful links

More on Trade between the EU and New-Zealand