What does CER cover?
CER covers substantially all goods and services. Total free trade in goods was achieved by 1990 (five years ahead of schedule) with the elimination of all tariffs and quantitative restrictions. The 1988 CER Services Protocol achieved free trade in services from 1 January 1989 on all services except those inscribed in annexes to the agreement. These inscriptions have been substantially reduced since and currently include only a few items, like coastal shipping. Both countries are now moving progressively towards much deeper integration of policies, law and regulatory regimes through processes of coordination, mutual recognition and harmonisation. This movement has been underpinned by frequent contacts between Ministers and Government agencies, by the closeness of the two societies through kinship, travel, business, social relationships and the increasing integration of markets.
