Mapp Wayne: New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement Bill — In Committee 
Mapp Wayne: New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:648;Page:17363] 
Dr WAYNE MAPP (National—North Shore) 
: 
 I will just develop the point that was being made by my colleague Mr Tim Groser who of course brings an enormous level of experience to international trade negotiations. One issue that has come through in amendments to Part 3 has arisen because there was some fear by submitters that through this agreement we would essentially be allowing the importation of dangerous electrical goods from China into New Zealand. It seemed to me at the time that those people were misunderstanding the role of international trade. 
I ask the Committee—and I put this to submitters—how successful China would be if it established a reputation as an exporter of dangerous electrical goods to other countries. It is in China’s interests to demonstrate that it is an exporter of high-quality goods and by and large it has been successful in that. We have only to go to any electrical goods store in New Zealand to find a wide range of Chinese-manufactured electrical goods such as television sets radios DVD players and so forth. In fact China is already one of the world’s largest—if not the largest—manufacturer of television sets. Those sets are mostly not for local consumption; they are mostly for export. A significant number of Apple iPods are manufactured and assembled in China. The truth is that global companies are increasingly using China as a manufacturing base. Quite clearly high electrical standards are required. 
In this instance we are talking about a global trading nation that produces goods of a standard that is safe for New Zealand. I am not suggesting there have been no problems at all—in particular there have been problems in relation to lead paint in toys. But those things are still covered by our safety regulations. Just because we have a free-trade agreement that does not mean we will completely abandon all standards around phytosanitary rules product safety rules and so forth. Countries still have to comply with those rules but this is a particular recognition in relation to electrical goods. 
I know that my colleague Mr Groser very very carefully discussed the nature of the agreement with members of the Government and former colleagues within the ministry. He made a formal recommendation well before the agreement was signed that that part of the agreement was satisfactory for the protection of the consumers of New Zealand. So what we are doing here today is passing that mutual recognition into legislation. I am suggesting and indeed saying to New Zealanders and to members of the Committee—particularly to those parties that are opposed—that this is not a reason to vote against the agreement. To be fair I have not actually heard New Zealand First oppose the agreement on this particular point. It has opposed the agreement on other points but not on this point. The Greens have raised the issue from time to time and Mr Locke raised it in Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee. I will certainly be anticipating their future contributions. 
It is a curious thing that this debate has been going for approximately 2 hours and virtually all the contributions have been made by National members. We think that this is an important agreement. We understand that there will be a third reading tomorrow and we wish to facilitate that process—we want this agreement to pass into law. But I must say I am surprised that parties that are opposed to the agreement have not been taking calls. Surely the people’s Chamber is where parties might actually set out their arguments as to why the agreement is not beneficial for New Zealand. I have to ask those three parties whether they are a little bit embarrassed about not supporting this agreement. It is widely supported. 
Peter Brown 
: Will the member get back to the part? 
Dr WAYNE MAPP 
: It is rightly supported and I say to Mr Brown that this is not one of those parts of the agreement that he need be concerned about. There is safety for New Zealand consumers based on this acceptance of the standards.