Grigg NicolaNICOLA GRIGG (National—Selwyn): Today is a great day for New Zealand's traders and exporters particularly in light of the announcement of the signing of an agreement in principle with the UK. It is only right that we in this House acknowledge the work here by the Minister Damien O'Connor and his officials. I'm sure though he would also acknowledge the work of the National Party and the former Ministers like Todd McClay and Tim Groser and the platform that they laid since negotiations began in 2016. So to Minister O'Connor and his officials who I'm sure are all listening it's been a long road but ultimately they have signed an unprecedented deal and we are glad that they have taken the time to serve up a comprehensive agreement and we offer our congratulations to them. We are however here today to talk about the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and for our Parliament to ratify this deal and bring its implementation one step closer. In opening up access to 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region RCEP will bring tremendous opportunities to manufacturers and producers across the country. It will cover trade in goods trade in services investment economic and technical cooperation intellectual property competition dispute settlement and other issues. It also recognises ASEAN's centrality in the emerging regional economic architecture and the interests of ASEAN's free-trade agreement (FTA) partners. While RCEP though is a good step forward when we hear what was negotiated with the UK and the scale that that opportunity brings it pales in comparison. New Zealand already has FTAs with RCEP members but was able to achieve new market access into Indonesia with a range of our products. It's a solid agreement but it's not spectacular. It will be supported by the National Party but India needs to be included in this membership and we need to keep at it and bring India in. It is after all a $2.8 trillion economy and the world's second largest population. India by the way is now wishing to conclude a comprehensive FTA with Australia which it began negotiating in 2011 and likewise the UK is now pushing an agenda.RCEP's conclusion without India means New Zealand needs to start applying far more effort on improving our trade position with that country. Since the last National Government this Government has engaged in almost no ministerial engagement with India. It was both illuminating and disappointing to have heard that from Meka Whaitiri in this House during the committee of the whole the other night. Her representations indicated there is seemingly no urgency from this Government. That needs to change if we're going to land an FTA with them as a priority.RCEP is less comprehensive and ambitious than the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership but is none the less useful in that it brings together a number of New Zealand's key trading partners. As I've mentioned there was some additional market access to Indonesia and the agreement on the clearance of perishable goods will be welcome to our exporters. In a world of rising protectionism it's heartening to know or to assume at least that the ratification of this deal will be supported by member states and political parties here in New Zealand with the notable exception of the Green Party. Currently we export $82 billion in goods and services every year and trade supports 600000 jobs in New Zealand. That's partly due to our country's liberalised trade agenda but also to the agility and ambition of our exporters particularly our primary producers. If its intention is achieved RCEP will promote economic integration establish a consistent framework of rules and increase market access for world-class goods and services that we produce here. That opportunity will come with the RCEP agreement. It's expected to significantly reduce complexity and compliance costs for exporters through a single rulebook that covers all 15 markets.RCEP's entry into force will occur 60 days after the date on which at least three non-ASEAN signatories and six ASEAN signatories have notified their intention to ratify. New Zealand will join Japan and China as three non-ASEAN signatories who have completed their domestic processes and several other ASEAN members are reported to be very close. The National Party welcomes the ratification of this deal and I commend this bill to the House.