This bill became law on Oct 24th, 2024.
Budget, tax & economy
Most goods from the United Kingdom that meet the trade agreement’s origin rulesThe rules that decide whether a product counts as eligible for the trade deal's lower tariff treatment. will enter Australia duty-free once the United Kingdom’s accessionThe process of a new country joining the trade agreement, which is what the bill is preparing for the United Kingdom. starts for Australia.
The United Kingdom’s accessionThe process of a new country joining the trade agreement, which is what the bill is preparing for the United Kingdom. to the CPTPPThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules. created a gap because Australia’s tariff law did not yet give UK goods the preferential duty rates required when the protocolThe formal document that sets the terms for the United Kingdom joining the CPTPP and triggers the tariff changes in this bill. takes effect here. This bill updates the tariff law to make most eligible UK goods duty-free, phase down some tariffs to 1 January 2033, and allow matching safeguards.
The CPTPPThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules. had been in force since 30 December 2018, and after member countries agreed on 16 July 2023 that the United Kingdom could join, Australia needed to update its tariff law because UK goods were not yet covered by the agreementThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules.’s preferential rates here. Parliament moved the bill through in September and October 2024 and it received Royal AssentThe formal step where a bill becomes an Act after the Governor-General approves it. before the UK’s accessionThe process of a new country joining the trade agreement, which is what the bill is preparing for the United Kingdom. took effect for Australia on 24 December 2024, enabling duty-free entry for most eligible UK goods, staged tariff cuts on some products through to 2033, and matching safeguard powers.
The main case against the bill was that expanding this trade deal to the United Kingdom could weaken Australian sovereignty, leave local industry worse off, and create winners and losers rather than broad national benefit. That criticism appears to have been narrow rather than broad, with One Nation arguing against the bill while no major party represented in the debate opposed it.
Julian Hill MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 24 Oct 2024
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
43 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Most goods from the United Kingdom that meet the trade agreement’s origin rulesThe rules that decide whether a product counts as eligible for the trade deal's lower tariff treatment. will enter Australia duty-free once the United Kingdom’s accessionThe process of a new country joining the trade agreement, which is what the bill is preparing for the United Kingdom. starts for Australia.
Some United Kingdom goods will not become duty-free straight away, because their tariffs will be cut step by step and must be fully removed by 1 January 2033 at the latest.
Australia can bring back the normal tariff on some United Kingdom products if the United Kingdom keeps an equivalent safeguard on matching Australian goods.
The new tariff changes only start after both royal assentThe formal step where a bill becomes an Act after the Governor-General approves it. and the United Kingdom accessionThe process of a new country joining the trade agreement, which is what the bill is preparing for the United Kingdom. taking effect for Australia, and they never start if that accessionThe process of a new country joining the trade agreement, which is what the bill is preparing for the United Kingdom. does not take effect here.
providing a ‘Free’ rate of customs duty for originating goods of the United Kingdom (other than goods listed in amended Schedule 8B), with effect from entry into force of the Protocol for Australia; andCustoms Tariff Amendment (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Expansion) explanatory memorandum
amending Schedule 8B to the Customs Tariff Act to specify the phasing rates of customs duty for certain originating goods of the United Kingdom that will incrementally reduce to ‘Free’ by, at the latest, 1 January 2033; andCustoms Tariff Amendment (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Expansion) explanatory memorandum
inserting a ‘safeguard’ provision that would restore the customs duty rate to the rate that applied immediately before the commencement of the Protocol for certain products, so long as the United Kingdom maintain its equivalent safeguard.Customs Tariff Amendment (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Expansion) explanatory memorandum
Table item 2 provides for Schedule 1 of the Bill to commence on the later of the day the Bill receives the Royal Assent, and the day the Protocol on the Accession of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans‑Pacific Partnership (the Protocol) done on 16 July 2023 at Auckland, New Zealand and Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, enters into force for Australia. However, the provisions do not commence at all if the Protocol does not enter into force for Australia.Customs Tariff Amendment (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Expansion) explanatory memorandum
Context
The CPTPPThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules. had been in force since 30 December 2018, and after member countries agreed on 16 July 2023 that the United Kingdom could join, Australia needed to update its tariff law because UK goods were not yet covered by the agreementThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules.’s preferential rates here. Parliament moved the bill through in September and October 2024 and it received Royal AssentThe formal step where a bill becomes an Act after the Governor-General approves it. before the UK’s accessionThe process of a new country joining the trade agreement, which is what the bill is preparing for the United Kingdom. took effect for Australia on 24 December 2024, enabling duty-free entry for most eligible UK goods, staged tariff cuts on some products through to 2033, and matching safeguard powers.
CPTPPThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules. enters into force
The trade pact began operating across its original members, creating the tariff framework that later had to be extended to the United Kingdom.
Hansard ↗CPTPPThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules. members agree the United Kingdom can join
The CPTPPThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules. Commission found the United Kingdom could meet the agreementThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules.’s rules and standards, clearing the way for accessionThe process of a new country joining the trade agreement, which is what the bill is preparing for the United Kingdom. through a formal protocolThe formal document that sets the terms for the United Kingdom joining the CPTPP and triggers the tariff changes in this bill..
Customs Tariff Amendment (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Expansion) explanatory memorandum ↗Government introduces the tariff bill for UK accessionThe process of a new country joining the trade agreement, which is what the bill is preparing for the United Kingdom.
The bill was introduced to amend Australia’s tariff law so the CPTPPThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules. could operate between Australia and the United Kingdom when accessionThe process of a new country joining the trade agreement, which is what the bill is preparing for the United Kingdom. took effect here.
Hansard ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the measure in the same form, finishing the legislative changes needed to give UK goods CPTPPThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules. tariff treatment in Australia.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe formal step where a bill becomes an Act after the Governor-General approves it. makes the tariff changes law
Royal AssentThe formal step where a bill becomes an Act after the Governor-General approves it. turned the bill into an Act, but its tariff changes were still tied to the United Kingdom’s accessionThe process of a new country joining the trade agreement, which is what the bill is preparing for the United Kingdom. taking effect for Australia.
Parliamentary timeline ↗UK accessionThe process of a new country joining the trade agreement, which is what the bill is preparing for the United Kingdom. takes effect for Australia
From this date, CPTPPThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules. was in force between the United Kingdom and Australia, letting the new Act deliver duty-free entry for most eligible UK goods and staged tariff cuts through to 2033.
Australian Border Force Customs Notice 2024/43 ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal step where a bill becomes an Act after the Governor-General approves it., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main case against the bill was that expanding this trade deal to the United Kingdom could weaken Australian sovereignty, leave local industry worse off, and create winners and losers rather than broad national benefit. That criticism appears to have been narrow rather than broad, with One Nation arguing against the bill while no major party represented in the debate opposed it.
Most criticism recorded was political and general, not about the bill's tariff drafting or implementation mechanics.
Sovereignty and local industry concerns
The strongest criticism was that bringing the United Kingdom into this trade arrangement would further a global trade agenda that reduces Australia's sovereignty, disadvantages some domestic industries and communities, and does not necessarily deliver broad benefits across the economy.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Hill supports the bill and wants it passed quickly so Australia can ratify the UK’s entry into the trade agreement and start benefiting from the new market access and supply-chain opportunities.
Read in Hansard ↗Roberts says One Nation will vote against the bill.
Read in Hansard ↗Violi supports the bill and says adding the United Kingdom to the CPTPPThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules. will open new markets for Australian farmers, businesses and food producers.
Read in Hansard ↗McCormack says the opposition supports the bill and will back the UK’s accessionThe process of a new country joining the trade agreement, which is what the bill is preparing for the United Kingdom. to the CPTPPThe trade deal that lets Australia give lower tariffs to member countries' goods when they meet the agreement's rules. because it strengthens free and rules based trade.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
2 speakers · 2 support
“The amendments in this bill are needed to finalise Australia's ratification of the protocol on the ascension of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The bill will insert preferential customs duty rates into the Customs Tariff Act 1995. Those rates will only apply to originating goods from the UK. The bill will also insert a method for identifying such goods and provisions to restore general rates of duty for certain goods when and if the UK has in place a safeguard provision applying to equivalent Australian goods. In other words, we're ensuring that this is a mature agreement between independent nations which respects each other's positions and interests. It's smart, it's intelligent and it works for us all. I commend the bill to this House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has considered the protocol in detail and has recommended that binding treaty action be taken. I thank the committee for expediting the tabling of its report. This has enabled the bill to be considered and, I hope, passed in this sitting period, as swift passage of this bill will enable the protocol to enter into force sooner and unlock its benefits for the Australian economy. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
7 speakers · 7 support
“That's why we're delighted that the United Kingdom has joined the CPTPP, because the UK is a great trading nation within the rules based multilateral trade system and it has a strong track record of compliance, as have all other CPTPP members. This free trade agreement will spread and open new opportunities in the UK for Australian farmers, Australian businesses and Australian food producers, and it builds on the foundation of the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement, which started on 31 May 2023 but was entered into and established under the coalition.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The opposition is supportive of this particular legislation. We understand that this involves a plurilateral free trade arrangement between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam. The agreement was signed on 8 March 2018, back when we were in government, and entered into force for Australia on 30 December 2018.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I'm rising to support the Customs Tariff Amendment (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Expansion) Bill 2024. I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone that the opposition will be supporting this bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This legislation that we have before us provides an opportunity for us to make the changes in our domestic legislation that we need to to accommodate United Kingdom joining the TPP.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise today to support the Customs Tariff Amendment (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Expansion) Bill. The coalition are absolutely delighted with the accession of the United Kingdom to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Adding the UK into the CPTPP is a welcome development. I will say it was the coalition government that did the hard yards, the lifting in negotiating the Australia-UK FTA, that has led us here.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“So I commend this bill to the House, and I support a bipartisan approach to trade agreements into the future.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 oppose
“And we will vote against today's bill as well.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Returned to House for further consideration
Returned to House for further consideration
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal step where a bill becomes an Act after the Governor-General approves it., turning the bill into an Act.
