Julian Hill (Bruce, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The Customs Tariff Amendment (Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2025 will amend the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to implement the preferential rates of customs duty for UAE originating goods to implement the free trade agreement known as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Australia and the United Arab Emirates.

These amendments, together with the amendments by the Customs Amendment (Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2025, will ensure that Australia fulfils its obligations as a signatory to the agreement and is prepared for the agreement to enter into force in Australia.

This bill will insert a new schedule of duty rates into the Customs Tariff Act. Schedule 16 will contain the preferential rates of customs duty for imported goods that satisfy the rules of origin set out in the agreement. UAE originating goods not set out in schedule 16 will have a 'free' rate of duty.

Australia has committed to reducing the rate of customs duty on most UAE originating goods to 'free', either at entry into force or over several years following entry into force of the agreement.

Excise-equivalent goods—which are certain fuel, alcohol, tobacco and petroleum products—that are UAE originating goods will continue to have excise equivalent duties of customs applied, so they receive the same treatment as domestically produced equivalents.

Finally, this bill also amends certain tariff concessions to maintain their scope and ensure that commitments made under the agreement are honoured.

The amendments in this bill complement the amendments in the Customs Amendment (Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2025.

I commend this bill—if not its name!—to the chamber.

Debate adjourned.

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