New Zealand-Singapore Closer Economic Partnership (ANZSCEP)
The Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership (ANZSCEP), which first entered into force on 1 January 2001, has been revised by the Protocol to Amend the Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership.
This Protocol comes into force on 1 January 2020 and includes updated provisions for rules of origin. In particular, the 40% ex-works cost area content rules (and associated quality control and testing provisions) are replaced by a schedule of Product Specific Rules (PSR). These rules offer on a product-by-product basis, a specified change in tariff classification (CTC) rule and a regional value content alternative rule.
Singapore is also Party to the ASEAN-Australia New Zealand Free Trade Area Agreement (AANZFTA), the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (P4.) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP). The rules of origin provisions under the new ANZSCEP Protocol take the most trade facilitating rules across these agreements and incorporate them into the new PSR schedule under the Protocol.
Information on the ANZSCEP rules of origin can be found in this Information Sheet. Additional information about the Singapore Upgrade can also be found on the MFAT website.
Claiming Preference under ANZSCEP
Under ANZSCEP a claim that goods are eligible for preferential tariff treatment is based on a written or electronic certification or declaration of origin completed by the importer, exporter or producer, or an authorised representative signing on their behalf. There is no prescribed format but the certification or declaration must contain certain minimum information. The declaration may be made on the invoice (wherever raised) or on any other document and must be made available to the importing Customs administration on request.
Rules of Origin Provisions
Chapter 3 Rules of origin and origin procedures