Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Tariff (New Zealand - Thailand Closer Economic Partnership) Bill — First Reading 
Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Tariff (New Zealand - Thailand Closer Economic Partnership) Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:625;Page:20608] 
LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN (Labour—Mana) 
: 
 It is with much pleasure that I stand on behalf of the Government and also for our Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee to speak in support of the first reading of the Tariff (New Zealand - Thailand Closer Economic Partnership) Bill. This is indeed an historic time for us because this New Zealand - Thailand Closer Economic Partnership Agreement represents a significant economic and strategic opportunity for New Zealand. It not only opens up more opportunities for New Zealand businesses but is an important step towards improving the trading environment in our region and worldwide. The agreement provides for all tariffs applying to goods of New Zealand or Thai origin traded between the two countries to be either eliminated immediately or phased out over a scheduled period. The agreement also enjoys strong support from the business community and others including educational institutions. 
I want to respond to Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith’s comments about Treaty of Waitangi interests. The relevant provision in this closer economic partnership does not have any impact on the nature of the Government’s policy in relation to Maori. It preserves the right of successive Governments to implement policies of their choice in relation to Maori and to fulfil treaty obligations. Dr Smith should remember that in the Singapore closer economic partnership agreement that he led he agreed to support that clause. Now he has suddenly done a turn-round. The precedent of a reservation like that has been set by many other countries in their international general agreements on trade and services. For example Australia Canada Malaysia the US and France have also included that indigenous reservation. 
In response to the member’s comments on the coverage of services I say the services sector is indisputably important to our New Zealand economy. That is why services are included in the agreement and why there is a binding commitment to enter into negotiations on trade in services within 3 years from the entry into force of the agreement. Clearly New Zealand would have preferred a comprehensive services agreement now but the fact is that Thailand is not in a position to do that. We have therefore reached the judgment that it was in New Zealand’s interests to schedule a full services negotiation within 3 years. 
In terms of the comments made by Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith on APEC Bogor declaration goals I say New Zealand remains committed to the Bogor goals. The closer economic partnership with Thailand is a bilateral agreement concluded in advance of the Bogor deadline. In the event that the APEC members do in fact collectively meet the Bogor goals the agreement with Thailand will not preclude us from doing so. In the meantime negotiating realities need to be taken into account. New Zealand is prepared to be ambitious but if our trading partners are unable or unwilling to match us we will not open up a one-way street. Where they want more time we will do the same as them rather than give anybody a free ride. 
I am delighted that we have agreed on this partnership. It is wonderful for New Zealand for its economy and for its global trade.