New Zealand Companies Out of the 'Chillybin'

On August 12, the U.S. in a Federal Register notice confirmed that it "has agreed to waive discriminatory purchasing requirements for eligible products and suppliers of New Zealand beginning on August 12, 2015," due to the WTO's approval of New Zealand as a member of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). Joining the 43-member GPA will provide new access to the U.S. federal marketplace for New Zealand-based companies, including "designated country" status under the Trade Agreements Act, and will open immediate doors to federal government contracting opportunities, including GSA and VA Schedule contracts, that generally limit  acquisition to end products that are manufactured or substantially transformed in the U.S. or a "designated country."