Legal Instrument

Title

ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA)

Dates of the instrument
Signature: 27 February 2009
Entry into force*: 01 January 2010
Summary

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.

Website(s)
AANZFTA on ASEAN website
Relevant document(s)
Agreement establishing the ASEAN - Australian - New Zealand Free Trade Area
Geographical coverage
Regional: Asia and the Pacific
Legal nature
Regional Trade Agreements
Trade processes
Commercial Processes
Transport Processes
Border and Regulatory Processes
Financial Processes
Trade documents
Commercial Invoice (INV)
Packing List (PL)
Bill of Lading (BoL)
Export/Import License for agricultural products (EIL)
Non-preferential Certificate of Origin (CoO)
Preferential Certificate of Origin (PCoO)
Customs Declaration (CD)
Phytosanitary certificate (ePhyto)
Advance Ruling Application (ARA)
Letter of Credit (LC)
Contact point
ASEAN Secretariat - ASW Steering Committee
asw@asean.org
https://asean.org/
Contact point
* For a model law – entry into force of the law enacting a model law; for a treaty–entry into force