1. Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing and New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker jointly announced the launch of a Declaration on Trade in Essential Goods for Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic today.
2. Mr Chan said, “The Declaration concretises actions Singapore and New Zealand will undertake to keep trade lines open for essential items amidst the current challenging circumstances. Our aim is to enable the continued production and flow of essential supplies to their intended destinations. We hope that more countries will sign on to this Declaration so that we can collectively respond effectively and efficiently to the COVID-19 situation. I look forward to receiving the first shipment of essential supplies from New Zealand next week under the agreement that we have.”
3. The Declaration builds on the Joint Ministerial Statement on Supply Chain Connectivity which was originally issued by New Zealand and Singapore last month. Seven other countries – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Uruguay have since pledged their commitment to the Joint Ministerial Statement to ensure supply chain connectivity amidst the COVID-19 situation.
4. Through this joint undertaking not to impose tariffs and other trade barriers including export restrictions, Singapore and New Zealand hope the Declaration will have a positive demonstrative effect and boost efforts to ensure that trade continues to flow unimpeded for a list of essential supplies. Both countries will also work closely together to expedite and facilitate the flow and transit of these products through our respective sea and air ports. 2 PRESS RELEASE
5. Singapore and New Zealand enjoy longstanding and warm relations. The conclusion of this Declaration, as well as the Joint Ministerial Statement, is a testament to our shared desire to advance efforts in maintaining trade and supply chain connectivity amidst the COVID-19 situation, and in bringing more like-minded partners together to do so. Annex: Text of Declaration (including a list of over 120 products identified as being essential goods in combating the COVID-19 Pandemic)
MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
15 APRIL 2020
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