Rules of origin under the Australia-New Zealand closer economic relations trade agreement

Commissioned study

This study has concluded. The research report was released on 11 June 2004.

The Australian Government asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a research study to examine the issue of Australia's rules of origin arrangements under the Australia - New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (CER).

The request stemmed from concerns that Australian and New Zealand firms are having difficulty achieving the minimum content threshold set down under the CER.

'Rules of origin' are the criteria used to define where a product has been made for the purposes of ensuring that only the products of countries which are party to a preferential trade agreement, such as CER, obtain the benefits of the agreement.

In undertaking the study, the Commission was to:

identify any economic and administrative problems with the operation and design of the rules of origin
propose any changes, including design or model changes, to ensure the rules of origin continue to promote the goals of the CER
assess the costs and benefits, including the regulatory burden, of any proposed changes
consider relevant international developments.