New Zealand Intellectual Property Office IPONZ and China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) launch Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program

On November 1, 2024, the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) launched the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot project. The project is scheduled to last for at least two years, until October 31, 2026.

The PPH pilot project is another step towards strengthening trade relations between the two countries following the renewal of the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement in 2022. In 2023, New Zealand's total trade exports to China will be US$20.76 billion, with major exports involving food, forestry and wood products, education and tourism, while New Zealand's total imports from China will be US$17.16 billion.