5. Regional Economic Development—Trade AgreementsHon SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga) to the Minister for Regional Economic DevelopmentRegional Economic Development—Trade Agreements5. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga) to the Minister for Regional Economic Development: Has he received any reports on the benefit of market access to economic growth in the regions?Hon SHANE JONES (Minister for Regional Economic Development): Yes. I've received a host of reports dealing with market access and the benefits of improved market access for economic growth in the regions.Hon Simon Bridges: How beneficial does he believe the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) agreement would be for regional economic development?Hon SHANE JONES: Well whilst it's not directly in my province of responsibility the reality is that an approved set of trade arrangements which themselves are still in a state of flux will inevitably bring upside to the provinces especially those in the business of agricultural products.Hon Simon Bridges: Well can I ask the Minister straight: does he support the signing of the CPTPP agreement?Mr SPEAKER: That's not the Minister's responsibility. There is another Minister—Hon Simon Bridges: Given its—Mr SPEAKER: No no. The member's had his question and I've ruled it out.Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Mr SPEAKER: Well you can have another question—if the member wants it.Hon Simon Bridges: Well it's a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Point of order the Hon Simon Bridges.Hon Simon Bridges: You see the primary question which is clearly about trade access and regional development. That's because regional development which this Minister is responsible for and trade access are intrinsically linked. So I think implicit in my question is—Mr SPEAKER: The member might think the link's intrinsic but this Minister is in charge of regional economic development. He is not in charge of trade negotiations and while there might be some advantages as I think members agree to the regions of that sort of arrangement whether or not this Minister supports it is not within his responsibilities in that ministerial portfolio. Does the member want to have another crack?Hon Simon Bridges: Well it's a new question; I take it I've lost that one.Mr SPEAKER: Yes you have.Hon Members: Ha ha!Mr SPEAKER: But you've just got it back all right?Hon Simon Bridges: Thank you Mr Speaker. In terms of regional development does the Minister think there are any regions of New Zealand that would not benefit from the kind of agreement we may well see in terms of the CPTPP agreement in New Zealand?Hon SHANE JONES: Without knowing what the final outcome would be obviously those who are in the business of exporting from the regions' forestry resources beef resources and fish resources—you'd have to imagine there is considerable upside.Hon Simon Bridges: So does he accept the upside from trade agreements and disagree with the comments made in this House about what a bad deal the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is?Hon SHANE JONES: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I have no idea what he is talking about. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I was struggling a little myself and I thought it might be a fine point that I didn't understand. I'll ask the member to repeat his question.Hon Simon Bridges: Well to the Minister: in light of his answers about the benefits in the regions of trade does he disagree with comments made in this House about what a bad deal the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is and what it would mean for the regions?Hon SHANE JONES: Given that it is probably a historical remark unlikely to relate to what I concede to be a new deal still in flux but unless he puts more specific context I think there is considerable upside in the regions for an imaginative and clever trade deal.