Parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade select committee has released a report on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Amendment Bill, with a majority recommendation that it be passed with amendments.
The omnibus bill would amend 10 enactments, the Tariff of New Zealand and the Wine Regulations 2006. Its purpose is to make the legislative changes required to align New Zealand's domestic laws and regulations with its obligations under the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement which New Zealand signed on 4 February 2016. This would enable New Zealand to ratify the Agreement.
The Acts which would be amended are the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997, Copyright Act 1994, Customs and Excise Act 1996, Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, Legislation Act 2012, Overseas Investment Act 2005, Patents Act 2013, Tariff Act 1988, and Trade Marks Act 2002.
The New Zealand Labour Party and Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand members of the committee opposed passage of the bill.