Joint Media Release
9 August, 2009
Australia/New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Ministerial Meeting
Ministers from Australia and New Zealand met in Wellington today for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Ministerial Meeting.
The Australian delegation was led by Trade Minister Simon Crean, joined by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke and Assistant Treasurer Nick Sherry.
The New Zealand delegation was led by Minister for Trade Tim Groser, joined by Agriculture Minister David Carter and Commerce Minister Simon Power.
The objective of the CER Ministerial Meeting is to advance the close and extensive trade and economic relationship between Australia and New Zealand. Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further economic integration and cooperation and advanced the extensive agenda arising from the Joint Statement on Strengthened Trans-Tasman Cooperation issued by Prime Ministers Rudd and Key on 2 March 2009.
"CER remains our most open and successful free trade agreement. It underpins the mutually beneficial expansion in two-way trade and investment. A concerted effort is underway to further expand CER and to advance the Single Economic Market (SEM) to reduce costs for business." Mr Crean said.
"At today's meeting, we have made substantial progress."
"I have invited Mr Groser to participate in the next meeting of the Ministerial Council on International Trade to increase bilateral engagement on trade-related issues."
Ministers agreed that the work underway to investigate ways to streamline Trans-Tasman travel by reducing barriers at the border was a significant new initiative that would bring many benefits.
Ministers welcomed the recent signature of the Double Taxation Agreement between Australia and New Zealand, the progress made on the CER Investment Protocol, with negotiations on track to conclude by the end of 2009, and the commitment to an Arrangement on Trans-Tasman Retirement Savings Portability.
"These developments represent a significant step towards the SEM and will result in concrete benefits to business" said Senator Sherry.
"There has also been substantial progress in joint efforts to harmonise our food standards and inspection regimes which will remove a number of regulatory barriers for our agricultural and food exporters" said Mr Burke.
Ministers reiterated the imperative to foster open markets at a time of significant global economic challenges. They agreed Australia and New Zealand should work even more closely to achieve shared regional and multilateral trade goals, and took the opportunity to affirm their commitment to secure a successful conclusion to the WTO Doha Round.
Ministers also warmly welcomed the commitment by Pacific Island Forum Leaders at their meeting in Cairns on 6 August 2009 to commence PACER Plus negotiations. Ministers acknowledged that capacity building would be a key element of the negotiations and noted their support for the early establishment of the Office of the Chief Trade Adviser. Ministers also reaffirmed their strong commitment to make progress at the forthcoming Forum Trade Ministers meeting to take place no later than November.
"The Rudd Government strongly values its excellent relationship with New Zealand and the Prime Ministers' meeting in Australia later this month will provide a further opportunity to consolidate and deepen our trade and economic integration for the benefit of both nations."
Media Inquiries: Mr Crean's office 02 6277 7420 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555