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Wednesday, 29 October 2014
Page: 12368

Mr ROBB (Goldstein—Minister for Trade and Investment) (09:06): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The Customs Tariff Amendment (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014 is the second bill relating to the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement.

This bill contains amendments to the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to implement part of the agreement by:

providing duty-free access for certain goods and preferential rates of customs duty for other goods that are Japanese originating goods;

phasing these preferential rates to zero by 2021;

amending schedule 4 to maintain customs duty rates for certain Japanese originating goods in accordance with the applicable concessional item; and

creating a new schedule 11 to specify excise-equivalent duties on certain alcohol, tobacco, and petroleum products and to provide for phasing rates of duty on certain goods as specified in the Agreement.

This bill complements the amendments contained in the Customs Amendment (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014.

Debate adjourned.