Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—It is with great pleasure that I table the first protocol to amend the agreement establishing the ASEAN Australia New Zealand Free Trade Area, AANZFTA, and the accompanying national interest analysis for the parliament's consideration. I signed the first protocol along with ministers from each of the other 11 AANZFTA parties in Nay Pyi Taw, Burma, on 26 August this year, at the time of the ASEAN economic ministers' closer economic relations trade ministers consultations. In accordance with the government’s treaty-making procedures, the parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will now review the first protocol and, in due course, provide its report. The tabling of the first protocol today will also give the public the opportunity to scrutinise in detail the provisions of the treaty.

The first protocol will cut down the time spent by business on paperwork and, in a number of areas, make AANZFTA more consistent with Australia’s other free trade agreements. It will remove the need for business to provide certain information—which some regard as commercial-in-confidence—to obtain the benefits of the free trade agreement. The first protocol will simplify the presentation of the agreement’s rules of origin and bring them into line with the current version of the World Customs Organization’s harmonized system. Finally, the protocol will improve the process for administering the agreement.

This protocol makes doing business under the AANZFTA easier. It means more businesses will be able to access the opportunities the agreement provides. This is another example of the government cutting red tape to ensure our businesses reap the full benefits of our free trade agreements. This is a priority for the government. With the recent conclusion of trade agreements with Korea, Japan and now China, I am committed to ensuring our farmers, service providers and manufacturers can fully access the new opportunities these agreements create.

The protocol is an example of how our free trade agreements are living agreements. The conclusion of free trade negotiations is not an end. It is the start of a new discussion with our trade and investment partners, built on the foundation of the agreement, on increasing economic opportunities and on addressing persistent trade barriers. The China FTA, for example, includes a commitment to reopen negotiations on sensitive agricultural products in three years. The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement establishes an annual joint committee meeting to review implementation of the agreement and recommend amendments. The government will use these agreements to continue to create new market openings for Australian exporters and investors.

The protocol also reflects Australia’s long history of working with both New Zealand and the nations of South-East Asia to promote trade. This year we celebrate the 40th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia relations, with Australia having become ASEAN’s first dialogue partner in 1974.

The AANZFTA agreement is the largest free trade agreement Australia currently has in force. Together, the parties to AANZFTA accounted for around 14 per cent of Australia’s exports of goods and services, valued at over $45 billion, and around 21 per cent of our imports of goods and services, valued at over $69 billion, in 2013. In 2013, almost 20,000 export shipments from all parts of Australia used the FTA to access AANZFTA markets. These shipments covered a broad range of products, including dairy and meat products, fresh fruit, cereals, biscuits and other food preparations, pet food, chemicals, plastics, copper and aluminium products, paper products, automotive parts and accessories and scientific instruments.

AANZFTA opened the door for Australia’s participation in the negotiations on a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. This involves all ten ASEAN member states and the six countries with which ASEAN has free trade agreements: China, India, Japan and Korea as well as Australia and New Zealand.

The protocol amending AANZFTA will reduce red tape for business and make it easier for business to access AANZFTA benefits. It demonstrates the ongoing value of FTAs as vehicles for continuing to open new trade and investment markets and demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to making free trade agreements business friendly.

I commend this agreement to parliament and hereby table the First Protocol to Amend the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area with its national interest analysis. I present a copy of the First Protocol to Amend the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area and the national interest analysis, and a copy of my ministerial statement.

I ask leave of the House to move a motion to enable the honourable the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to speak for five minutes.

Leave granted.

I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent Ms Plibersek speaking in reply to the ministerial statement for a period not exceeding five minutes.

Question agreed to.

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