Submission to the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Parliamentary Select Committee on the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies
NZIBF & ExportNZ Submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade Parliamentary Select Committee on the International treaty examination of the Protocol to Amend the Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership - Agreement on Trade and Essential Supplies (AOTES)
May 2026
Introduction
This submission is made on behalf of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) and Export New Zealand (ExportNZ). NZIBF brings together leading exporters and business organisations to promote sustainable open trade. ExportNZ, a division of Business New Zealand, is a national industry association representing New Zealand’s diverse range of export sectors throughout the country.
Executive Summary
NZIBF and ExportNZ welcome and support the Protocol to Amend the Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership to incorporate the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES) as an integral part of the CEP. We consider the AOTES to be strategically important and capable of delivering significant mutual benefits to both countries.
NZIBF and ExportNZ welcome the intention of the AOTES to strengthen supply chain resilience and provide greater certainty around access to critical goods and key trade routes during periods of disruption. Supply chain resilience is critical for NZIBF members to ensuring goods can continue to reach international markets reliably and competitively, particularly in an increasingly volatile global environment marked by geopolitical tensions, shipping disruptions, and rising trade uncertainty.
New Zealand and Singapore, while small economies, are regional partners with complementary interests and strengths and a track record of working well together. NZIBF considers the AOTES as a novel way for small countries such as ours to increase their supply chain resilience in times of crisis.
The Agreement reflects the close and trusted partnership between New Zealand and Singapore and highlights the strategic importance of cooperation between small trading nations in strengthening resilience, supporting open trade, and responding collectively to geopolitical and supply chain challenges. We believe the agreement is strategically important for New Zealand in terms of our partnership with Singapore and in demonstrating that small countries do have agency through cooperation and trust, despite geopolitical and energy shocks.
We support the view presented in the National Interest Analysis (NIA) that the AOTES will help to deepen New Zealand’s economic resilience, advance our bilateral relationship with Singapore, enhance our supply chain resilience, and signal New Zealand’s support of free and fair trade internationally.
We note that the AOTES is government-to-government treaty-level agreement to refrain from placing export controls on critical goods and that it goes further than our mutual WTO obligations in that regard.
NZIBF and ExportNZ also understand that the AOTES does not cut across the role of the private sector in the production and management of supply chains and does not introduce any new regulation for the private sector.
Although the AOTES does not create binding obligations on the private sector, we note the strong track record of industry stepping up during periods of disruption to help maintain the flow of trade and essential goods, including throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The willingness of businesses, logistics providers, and exporters to work collaboratively with the Government during crises demonstrates the value of practical frameworks that support coordination and resilient supply chains between trusted trading partners.
NZIBF and ExportNZ recommend that the Select Committee report to Parliament that the Protocol to Amend the Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership to incorporate the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES) as an integral part of the CEP represents a positive outcome for New Zealand and should be enacted through legislation.
About the NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF)
NZIBF provides a voice to articulate the needs and priorities of New Zealand’s international business community, and particularly the importance of open markets, to the New Zealand Government and public stakeholders. The NZIBF Board brings together leaders from among New Zealand’s largest internationally oriented companies and peak business organisations representing major sectors of the New Zealand economy and more than $50 billion in exports.
About Export New Zealand (ExportNZ)
ExportNZ is a national industry association representing a diverse range of exporters throughout New Zealand. ExportNZ is a division of BusinessNZ, New Zealand’s peak business advocacy body.
We are a membership organisation and have approximately 2,000 export members around the country.
ExportNZ advocates for, inspires, connects, and celebrates New Zealand exporters. We aim to build a thriving ecosystem that supports each other.
Key rationale
NZIBF and ExportNZ note that the AOTES seeks to protect the movement of essential goods between New Zealand and Singapore during crises and supply chain disruptions. Both countries commit to not impose export restrictions on an agreed list of essential goods, which includes food, fuels, medical equipment, and construction materials.
NZIBF and ExportNZ support the objectives and intended benefits of the AOTES, as outlined in the National Interest Analysis.
Deepening economic resilience and security: The AOTES is designed to enhance New Zealand’s access to critical goods from Singapore during periods of disruption, strengthen cooperation on essential supply chains, and provide greater certainty around the commercial supply of key products, including fuels, during crises. In a time of geo-political turmoil, enhanced supply chain certainty is welcomed by our exporters to ensure access to key international markets.
Growing the bilateral relationship: The Agreement underscores the deep and trusted partnership between New Zealand and Singapore and builds on a strong legacy of trade policy innovation, including through agreements such as the P4 and CPTPP. NZIBF considers that the Agreement reinforces a stable, rules-based trading environment and strengthens cooperation with a key regional export partner.
Enhancing supply chain resilience: The AOTES will improve information sharing and coordination between New Zealand and Singapore during supply shocks, helping New Zealand better understand and respond to disruptions in global supply chains. As we have already noted, supply chain resilience is critical for NZIBF members to ensuring goods can continue to reach international markets reliably and competitively, particularly in an increasingly volatile global environment marked by geopolitical tensions, shipping disruptions, and rising trade uncertainty.
Supporting free and open trade: The Agreement reinforces both countries’ commitment to open trade and the rules-based international system, while signalling continued support for resilient and complementary economic ties. For New Zealand exporters, this is important because open and rules-based trade provides greater certainty, predictability, and resilience for businesses operating in an increasingly uncertain global environment, helping ensure the continued flow of goods through critical regional supply chains.
We understand that the Agreement does not require either New Zealand or Singapore to procure, supply, or guarantee the availability of goods to the other Party. Nor does it limit either Party’s ability to implement necessary domestic regulatory measures. Where a Party introduces a measure that could adversely affect bilateral trade in essential goods, the Parties will exchange information and consult with each other.
NZIBF and ExportNZ recommends that the Select Committee:
note that NZIBF and ExportNZ support the Protocol to Amend the Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership to incorporate the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES) as an integral part of the CEP.
report to Parliament endorsing the Protocol to Amend the Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership to incorporate the Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies (AOTES) as an integral part of the CEP.
ENDS