The New Zealand Customs Service and China's General Administration of Customs have initiated a pilot to facilitate faster border clearance for airfreighted fresh foods. Introduced during Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's visit to China, this initiative aims to shorten clearance times at Auckland International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
Christine Stevenson, the Comptroller and Chief Executive of New Zealand Customs, was present in Beijing. She stated the project aims to streamline documentation checks, enabling quicker access to the Chinese market for items like fruit. Stevenson noted, "We know that it is important for New Zealand businesses to be able to get the fresh food they are sending cleared on the same day it arrives in China."
Stevenson added that the pilot "will give our exporters increased certainty that their high-value produce will be processed with minimal delay when they arrive in Shanghai." The same reciprocal approach will apply to low-risk goods entering New Zealand via Auckland.
In the last year, from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025, New Zealand's exports to Shanghai amounted to over US$131 million worth of fresh food.
Additionally, during the trade visit, Prime Minister Luxon introduced a Customs Arrangement to enhance trade efficiency through the Single Window, an automated system for submitting required information to border agencies.
Source: Inside Government