FTA — an acronym worth knowing
28th July 2011 by Andrew Matheson, Manila | 6 Comments
Free trade agreements can make a real difference to ordinary people’s lives. The negotiations and the multitude of final agreements are pretty complex stuff, but the end result — an FTA in the jargon — makes things better for businesses and consumers alike.
The dedicated folk in the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry are doing a great job in getting news out about the FTA that links New Zealand and the Philippines, known as AANZFTA, and we at the New Zealand Embassy have often worked with them in this. At a recent forum in Davao the chief of the department’s export trade promotion bureau, Senen Perlada, told businesses that they need to take advantage of the free trade agreements that the Philippines is party to: “FTAs are like trading games. If we don’t play, we simply lose by default”.
The Philippines has joined several FTAs, though AANZFTA is its first comprehensive agreement covering goods, services and investment. Trade and industry secretary Gregory Domingo has said publicly that the Philippines should join more FTA negotiations, so the country’s companies and consumers aren’t disadvantaged as other Asian countries extend their free trade opportunities.
Secretary Domingo has mentioned to me that the Philippines is interested to join, in time, an FTA that’s currently the talk of the town — the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP if you want another acronym. Nine countries in Oceania, Asia and the Americas are negotiating the TPP across a much wider range of areas than you’d normally find in an FTA, to create what really does deserve the title of a “21st century trade agreement”. The TPP recognises the sophisticated way trade is now carried out, and the advent of what are effectively global supply chains.
New Zealand is one of the countries negotiating the TPP, and our trade minister Tim Groser has pointed out that New Zealand is in fact the original architect of the agreement. As he says, “you don’t need to be a big country to have a big idea”.
The Prime Minister, John Key, made it clear in a recent speech in the US that New Zealand wants a high-quality agreement. We want a TPP that modernises trade rules across a wide agenda, in a region that has become the engine of global economic and trade growth.
You can keep up with developments in the TPP by following columns written by New Zealand’s TPP negotiators.
Most Filipinos, including many in the business community, are sadly unaware of free trade agreements & if they’re mentioned at all, it’s in negative terms with regards to lost livelihoods, environmental impact, etc. Many countries in the region are scrambling to forge FTAs at bilateral/regional levels in the wake of recent failed Doha trade negotiations. Within ASEAN, I can only envy Singapore in the sense that they have no agricultural sector to protect, making it easier for them to forge FTAs with entities like the European Free Trade Agreement. The Philippines still has some way to go in forging FTAs with many countries. Japan, China, South Korea, & Australia/New Zealand are a start, & the European Union are anxious that Manila commences serious negotiations on an FTA, but there are still substantial hurdles to overcome, like the opposition of vested interests.
FTA and the TPP are great however I feel NZ is a bit behind the 8 ball as far as some of its processes are concerned. For example medical documents have to be physically sent to an NZ medical advisor. As these documents are in the hands of INZ in the foreign country and therefore have been verified for authenticity I cannot see why they cannot be scanned and emailed to NZ thus saving a lot of time. Also NZ does not have a Fiancee visa and with the increase in movement of people that these new agreements will bring we as a country, in my view, should hve such a visa and a simplified (but not lax) application process.
Philip
New Zealand recognises de facto and same-sex relationships, and of course has general visitor visas, so considers that specific fiancé(e) visas aren’t necessary.
You make a good point about scanning medical records once they’ve been authenticated. I understand that Immigration New Zealand does this in some markets and will be trialling it in Asia to make the process more efficient.
Andrew
Hi Andrew.
Yes I understand that we recognise these relationships but I just feel that the process to allow a NZ citizen to be able to have his or her partner stay in our country is way to complex and expensive. I may be incorrect but it seems the USA allows applications for permanent residence once the parties are married. Not so with us. As a 64 year old kiwi who has contributed to my country in many ways for many years I am a bit stunned at the way my country behaves when I just want to have my wife by my side forever as that is what a true marriage is all about. NZ does not stop me but makes it very long winded and costly and I just don’t think it is all that reasonable. There seems to be a “one size fits all” policy.
Philip
There’s a lot of information about partners from the Philippines wanting to apply for a New Zealand visa here.
The process is actually pretty simple for temporary entry to New Zealand for genuine partners of New Zealanders. Yes, several processes and checks are required such as obtaining clear police reports and medicals, and of course these do cost money. This is sought from all applicants seeking long-term stays in New Zealand, whether for study, work or as visitors, as part of managing immigration risks. Most countries have similar requirements.
If you have any questions you’re welcome to make direct contact with the Manila office of Immigration New Zealand.
Immigration New Zealand administers policy, but the aims of New Zealand’s immigration policy are set by the government. You might be interested in this speech made last week by the Minister of Immigration, Dr Jonathan Coleman. In it he sets out the role immigration has in the government’s economic agenda, which is to lift the nation’s economic performance and New Zealanders’ standard of living.
Andrew
Thanks Andrew.
I don’t want to take up your time but the point I was making was that once the person is here, getting married does not let them apply for permanent residence straight away. They must wait 12 months. I agree with you that the checks and balances are fair and reasonable and fairly simple. As my partner is now here and we are married I just think that should be enough. We had to satisfy the genuiness of the relationship in the first instance just to get her here. Why do we have to do it all over again?
Anyway, I won’t blog on this again and thanks for your blog…it is great.