ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA)
The Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) is a comprehensive agreement between ASEAN Member States, Australia, and New Zealand that contains 18 chapters, 4 annexes and a Protocol signed in August 2014.
The agreement includes significant paperless trade provisions, particularly in Chapter 10 dealing with electronic commerce, which establishes:
- Electronic authentication protocols and digital certificates recognition
- Implementation initiatives for paperless trading
- Enhanced acceptance of electronic versions of trade administration documents
- Cross-border data exchange mechanisms
- Digital documentation standards harmonization
- Integration with single window systems
The agreement covers Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, and New Zealand. Since entering into force on January 1, 2010, it has played a crucial role in facilitating digital trade transformation across the region while promoting secure and efficient electronic trade documentation processes.