Hutchison Paul: Trade (Safeguard Measures) Bill — Second Reading 
Hutchison Paul: Trade (Safeguard Measures) Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:678;Page:1364] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to speak on the Trade (Safeguard Measures) Bill. I too want to congratulate the excellent Associate Minister of Commerce the Hon John Banks on his moving the second reading of the bill in this timely fashion.  
It was intriguing to hear the Hon Maryan Street make some comment about how long it had taken to bring this bill in. But I note that in actual fact it was introduced under a Labour Government in 2008. After 9 long—what did she say—shambling bumbling incompetent years of management finally a good National Government was able to take over this bill and now here we are today bringing it through the second reading. 
This indeed is a technical bill and indeed it is important to New Zealand. I can think of my own electorate Hunua which is responsible for a great deal of exports—in particular producer goods such as tomatoes such as garlic such as onions. They are all good for you. They are all good for growing bonny babies. These are the sorts of things that can be dumped and have been dumped in New Zealand and that is what this bill is all about.  
It is important to point out that by definition safeguard measures are emergency measures applied at the border usually in the form of a duty to temporarily protect a domestic industry from a surge in imported goods. As I think the Hon Maryan Street said these safeguards conform with World Trade Organization rules and therefore are appropriate for safeguarding our very important international exports. 
The other point I wanted to note was that the Hon John Banks had commended the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee for its excellent work and in particular the leadership of the honourable John Hayes. Mr Banks did ask why the bill had waited for him in order for it to come into the House. Well indeed this is the Hon John Banks’ second coming and it is fitting and nice that he is able to bring in this technical bill. It is something that is very much consistent with one of the issues that is dear to John Banks’ heart and that is of course basic economic growth of the New Zealand economy. Indeed it is one of the very very important parts of the framework that are going to bring that about. 
After all over the last few years New Zealand under National—and I must say under the previous Labour Government—has forged a variety of free-trade agreements. In the next 3 years we will be leading at least 28 high-level missions to Asian countries to expand trade and business links. We will also continue to pursue high-quality trade agreements including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and bilateral free-trade agreements. Once again whenever we enter into these free-trade agreements there is always the problem of dumping occurring. That is why technically this bill is so important. 
Hon Member 
: Rev it up. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON 
: Rev it up? Well you see over on that side we had those 9 long—what did she call them—shambling bumbling incompetent years of management and in those days of very very dire concern for New Zealand when there was a world economic crisis how did Labour handle it? Absolutely abysmally. 
Here we are today fortunately bringing in this highly constructive technical bill. As John Banks pointed out the bill prevents New Zealand from receiving a rapid influx of cheap imports. It allows time for New Zealand businesses to bring themselves up to the level of international competitiveness required to stay afloat. As a temporary measure New Zealand consumers will continue to have the benefit of the free-trade principles that underpin New Zealand’s trading environment. It can also have a positive effect on investment as it can help balance economic swings so that long-term investments may be safer. Finally an effective safeguard regime can help build support for future trade liberalisation amongst domestic manufacturers that compete with imported trade. So I am very glad to commend this bill to the House.