CPTPP underway - New Zealand to see the benefits of the CPTPP with tariff cuts for our exporters from 30 December 2018 Australia has become the sixth country to ratify the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Agreement, after Japan, Singapore, Mexico, New Zealand and Canada triggering the 60 day countdown to entry into force of the Agreement on 30 December 2018 and the first round of tariff cuts. Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker said the threshold to bring the deal into effect was crossed when Australia notified New Zealand today, as Depositary for the CPTPP, that it had completed its domestic procedures to ratify the Agreement. The CPTPP marks the first free trade deal for New Zealand with Japan, the third largest economy in the world, as well as with Mexico and Canada – both G20 countries. The remaining countries yet to ratify are Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, Peru and Vietnam. Other countries have also expressed formal interest in negotiating accession to the CPTPP, including Colombia, Korea, and the United Kingdom. The CPTPP markets are collectively home to 480 million consumers and make up 13.5 per cent of world GDP. With the CPTPP coming into force, it is inevitable that with the significant opportunities and the resultant increase in international trade and commerce, there will be a correlative increase in the number of disputes between parties to those cross-border transactions, and it is essential that those contracting parties have access to prompt, efficient, and cost effective dispute resolution mechanisms and services. New Zealand is a modern, dynamic country with an open economy and business environment with strong respect for diversity; it is politically stable and has excellent infrastructure, communication, technology, and a supportive legal environment that underpins the efficacy of international dispute resolution; and it is highly respected globally as an independent and lawful jurisdiction for international arbitration and mediation. With New Zealand’s well developed and trusted legal system, world class infrastructure, and ‘safe nation’ status, and NZIAC’s new Rules, NZIAC is ideally positioned to become the Trans-Pacific Region’s premier forum to handle the expected growth in complex, cross-border commercial and investment disputes in the region. The following arbitration clause should be included in contracts where the parties wish to have any future disputes resolved by Arbitration under the New Zealand International Arbitration Centre’s Arbitration Rules: “Any dispute or difference arising out of or in connection with this contract, or the subject matter of this contract, including any question about its existence, validity or termination, shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the New Zealand International Arbitration Centre.” Parties to an existing dispute that have not incorporated the NZIAC Model Clause into a prior agreement may agree to refer that dispute to Arbitration under the NZIAC Arbitration Rules by signing the Arbitration Agreement in the form found at Appendix 2 to those Rules.