ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA timeline [PDF 67 KB]

• Early 1990s: The Australian government initiates efforts to develop links between the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (ANZCERTA, hereafter referred to as CER).
• November 1993: Former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr Supachai, makes supportive comments about linking AFTA and CER at trade conference in Melbourne.
• September 1995: Informal consultations between Ministers from ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand in Brunei Darussalam agree to "region to region linkages" between AFTA and CER.
• October 1999: ASEAN, Australian and New Zealand Ministers establish a High Level Task Force to examine the feasibility of an AFTA-CER Free Trade Area.
• October 2000: The High Level Task Force report "The Angkor Agenda" supports the establishment of an AFTA-CER free trade agreement.
• September 2002: AFTA-CER Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) established.
• November 2004: Leaders from the 10 ASEAN countries, Australia and New Zealand agree in Laos to launch negotiations on a comprehensive FTA covering goods and services, as well as investment.
• March 2005: AANZFTA negotiations begin in Manila.
• 2005 - 2008: 16 rounds of negotiations.
• 28 August 2008: ASEAN, Australian and New Zealand Ministers meet in Singapore to conclude AANZFTA negotiations.
• 27 February 2009: ASEAN, Australian and New Zealand Ministers meet in Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand, to sign AANZFTA.
• 1 January 2010: AANZFTA entered into force for Australia, New Zealand, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
• 12 March 2010: AANZFTA entered into force for Thailand.
• 1 January 2011: AANZFTA entered into force for Laos.
• 4 January 2011: AANZFTA entered into force for Cambodia.
• 10 January 2012: AANZFTA entered into force for Indonesia.
• 25 August 2014: The First Protocol to Amend the Agreement Establishing AANZFTA signed by Ministers.
• 1 October 2015: The First Protocol to Amend the Agreement Establishing AANZFTA entered into force for Australia, New Zealand, Brunei Darussalam, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
• January 2016: The First Protocol to Amend the Agreement Establishing AANZFTA entered into force for Cambodia.
• 4 August 2016: Terms of Reference for the General Review of AANZFTA endorsed by Ministers.
• 2017: General Review of AANZFTA scheduled to commence.