9. MELISSA LEE (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Customs
What progress has been made to facilitate trade between New Zealand and the United States?
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON (Minister of Customs) Link to this
I have very good news for the House. Just recently an exchange of letters was signed between our ambassador in America, Mike Moore, and the head of United States Customs and Border Protection, Alan Bersin. The extension of the mutual recognition means that New Zealand exporters who are involved in what we call the Secure Exports Scheme will be exempt from a whole range of America’s import inspections. It means that those companies will be about three and a half times less likely to be inspected. The real benefit is that New Zealand is the only country in the world to have this special arrangement. It means we will not only be able to keep our communities safe but also allow our exporters to go about secure and efficient trade between the two countries.
What benefits does the agreement give to New Zealand Secure Exports Scheme exporters to the United States?
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON Link to this
As I said, New Zealand is the only country in the world to have the arrangement with the United States, which is a first. I am really pleased. The arrangement is that if our companies—and there are a lot of New Zealand companies; they export about $1,350 million to the United States—have joined the Secure Exports Scheme, prove they have secure channels, and make sure the containers leaving their base have been properly packed, inspected, and sealed, then they will be given very special treatment. The agreement means they will be able to enter the United States rapidly and be way less subject to inspection than companies from any other country.