SYDNEY, Jan 16 (Oana-Kyodo) - New Zealand has sounded a note of caution over the comprehensiveness of the free-trade agreement (FTA) signed by Japan and Singapore, a New Zealand government spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong signed the accord, called the Japan-Singapore Economic Agreement for a New Age Partnership, on Sunday.

The FTA, the first ever for Japan, is expected to take effect around the middle of the year. It will remove tariffs on 94% of Singapore's exports to Japan, up from the current level of 84% and covering more than 3,800 items.

But the tariffs on politically sensitive agricultural and fishery products as well as some petrochemical and petroleum goods will be excluded.

New Zealand, whose closer economic partnership (CEP) agreement with Singapore came into effect in 2001, expressed concern because the Japan-Singapore FTA does not include agriculture.

New Zealand Trade Minister Jim Sutton said Tuesday he had asked Singapore officials for further details on how the agreement will apply to agricultural products.

--(Oana-Kyodo)