O'Connor DamienHon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister for Trade and Export Growth): Thank you Mr Chair. I'll just take the opportunity I guess—we're bringing the legislation back into the House—to just outline how we have got here.I'd just like firstly to thank all of those who have been engaged in progressing this United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill so far from the members of the select committee members of Parliament members of civil society and business representatives. Your engagement is a critical part of the implementation process. I'd like to thank the Opposition too for their support. The UK was New Zealand's seventh-largest trading partner pre-COVID-19 and our two countries have a uniquely close bond including a deep connection between Māori and the UK given the role of the British Crown as one of the original signatories of Te Tiriti o Waitangi the Treaty of Waitangi.Concluding the free-trade agreement (FTA) has been one of the key priorities for the Government's trade recovery strategy. In February this year after 18 months of intensive negotiations—much of it online I have to say—we secured one of the best deals New Zealand has ever negotiated. Our agreement will assist the development of stronger trade economic cultural people-to-people links between our two countries. The expansion of New Zealand's free-trade agreement network will contribute to New Zealand's diversified trade portfolio and assist New Zealand's recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19.Most of the obligations in the free-trade agreement are already met by New Zealand's existing domestic legal and policy regime. A limited number of legislative and regulatory amendments are required to align New Zealand's domestic law with certain obligations in the free-trade agreement.The bill was introduced into the House on 26 July 2022 as an omnibus bill. The bill amends the Copyright Act 1994 the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001 the Overseas Investment Act 2005 the Overseas Investment Regulations 2005 the Tariff Act 1988 and the Customs and Excise Regulations 1996. Part 5 of the bill also creates a new regime required to administer the transitional apple export quota.I will be introducing a Supplementary Order Paper to split out Part 5 from the rest of the bill creating two bills: the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill and the second one will be the Apple Transitional Export Quota Bill. This split accords with Standing Order 317 given Part 5 creates a completely new legislative framework in whole whereas other parts amend existing legislation. Part 5 will also be repealed earlier than other parts of the bill as the apples quota will only be in force until the end of the third year that the free-trade agreement is in force.The free-trade agreement—FTA—will also be implemented by subsequent secondary legislation. Commencement date of both pieces of legislation will be set by the Governor-General by Order in Council once the date of the entry into force of the free-trade agreement has been agreed with the UK. This of course is subject to the UK's own ratification processes and we look forward to those progressing as quickly as possible.The free-trade agreement has two obligations that New Zealand has a transitional period to implement. New Zealand has agreed to firstly introduce a new artist resale right scheme within two years of the free-trade agreement entering into force; and secondly to extend copyright and related rights terms within 15 years of the free-trade agreement entering into force. This will require a further amendment to the Copyright Act 1994. Legislation for these two commitments will be required by a later date.The Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee extensively examined the bill and received submissions from the public civil society and business representatives. The select committee considered the bill between 26 July and 20 October. The committee made a limited number of recommendations related to Part 5 of the bill—as I say the apple transition export quota. Further technical amendments were also made for further clarity and consistency and I want to thank them once again for their consideration of this.The New Zealand - United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement sets high-quality precedents in international trade rules. It is a comprehensive free-trade agreement that has real benefits for all New Zealanders. The bill will enable New Zealand to ratify the free-trade agreement and allow our exporters to take advantage of the significant opportunities it creates.New Zealand is aiming to complete domestic ratification processes by the end of this year. The United Kingdom is also completing its domestic ratification processes and once both countries have done so the FTA can enter into force.