The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement (TTRMA) – which aims to remove regulatory barriers between Australia and New Zealand and facilitate trade across the Tasman – is now 20 years old.
The TTMRA helps to increase transparency in trading arrangements and reduce compliance costs for businesses on both sides of the Tasman.
When first established, the TTRMA created a world-leading trade framework. But over the past 20 years, regulatory and other barriers have started to creep in, and these have weakened the Agreement.
Examples of inconsistencies emerging across the Tasman:
- Gas appliances have to comply with differing certification marks, standards and declaration requirements between Australia and New Zealand
- Shipping containers and pallets have different standards for transport and storage between Australia and New Zealand.
Do you have any examples of barriers to trans-Tasman trade in your own area of business? Please take part in the survey –
BusinessNZ has designed a short survey to collect information from businesses about barriers to trans-Tasman trade. Barriers could improve different approaches on each side of the Tasman, de-jointing of joint Standards, differing product standards, testing requirements, labelling standards etc.
If you have found examples of barriers or obstacles in your trans-Tasman trading, could you please take part in the survey here: https://survey.businessnz.org.nz/zs/SoBHvd
How will the survey findings be used
The survey findings will be presented to MBIE to inform its work with its Australian counterpart to develop a joint plan for presentation to the relevant New Zealand and Australian Ministers. The plan will be focused on improving regulatory coherence between Australia and New Zealand and will identify areas for reducing blockages to straightforward trade across the trans-Tasman region.
