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Justice Minister, Judith Collins, and Trade Minister, Tim Groser, have welcomed the European Commission’s formal declaration that New Zealand privacy law provides an adequate standard of data protection for the purposes of European Union (EU) law.

European Union countries can now send personal data to New Zealand for processing without the need for extra controls.

Ms Collins says New Zealand is one of only five countries outside Europe to receive this level of recognition and trust and this is a vote of confidence in New Zealand’s privacy laws.

Exporters will have access to improved support from the New Zealand Export Credit Office under changes announced by the Government today, Finance Minister Bill English and Trade Minister Tim Groser say.

The NZECO, which is based in The Treasury, is the Government’s official export credit agency. It provides financial guarantees and trade credit insurance to exporters and banks.

The main changes announced by the ministers today will:

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser today announced that the Government is banning some international emissions units from New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) due to concerns over their environmental integrity.

“We are banning international units generated from industrial gas destruction projects and large hydropower projects that do not meet World Commission on Dams guidelines. This change is about ensuring the environmental integrity of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme is maintained,” Mr Groser says.

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser announced today that New Zealand would join the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

The CCAC is a new initiative focussed on climate pollutants such as black carbon, and greenhouse gases including HFCs and methane that have potent but short-lived effects on climate, human health and agriculture productivity. The Coalition is a voluntary partnership initiated by the United States.

Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser has welcomed the assurance of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) regarding future access to existing Kyoto carbon markets after 1 January 2013.

“There has been significant ill-informed commentary regarding the impact of the decisions made in Doha regarding access to Kyoto carbon markets from 1 January 2013 which is causing unnecessary concern for many participants in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.

Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser and Associate Minister Simon Bridges have been leading the New Zealand delegation at the annual Climate Change Ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar.

“This Conference has been challenging and went a day over time, but we are now well placed to confront the real issue: the negotiation of a long-term comprehensive Climate Change Agreement,” says Mr Groser in Qatar.

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser departs tomorrow for the 18th ministerial climate change conference to be held in Doha, Qatar under the UN Convention on Climate Change. 

“Last year’s conference in Durban made some significant advancements, including the decision to negotiate a new global agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol by 2020,” Mr Groser says.

Trade Minister Tim Groser welcomes the arrival of over 500 negotiators from 11 countries to Round 15 of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, which runs from 3-12 December in Auckland.

“TPP participants already take around 38 percent of our exports and include our largest services and international procurement markets.

“A comprehensive 21st century agreement would provide many more opportunities to New Zealand businesses to grow their trade and investment footprint in the region,” says Mr Groser.

New Zealand has been granted observer status to the fast-growing Latin America economic bloc known as the Pacific Alliance, which includes Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru. 

Trade Minister Tim Groser says observer status gives New Zealand a chance to forge closer links in the region.

“New Zealand values its engagement with these like-minded Latin American countries. Intensifying our relationship with them via the Pacific Alliance provides real opportunities for New Zealand trade with the region.”

Trade Minister Tim Groser will meet with his Australian counterpart at the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Forum tomorrow in Canberra.

The forum provides an opportunity for New Zealand and Australia to review and progress the bilateral trade and economic relationship. 

“On both sides of the Tasman there is a high level of political commitment to strengthening and deepening our relationship, and this meeting will be important in helping us progress the single economic market agenda.”

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser today announced the Government’s intention to commence consultation on excluding specific types of international Kyoto units from the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

The Government has decided that from 1 January 2013 New Zealand will be aligning its climate change efforts with developed and developing countries which collectively are responsible for 85% of global emissions. This includes the United States, Japan, China, India, Canada, Brazil, Russia and many other major economies, Climate Change Minister Tim Groser says.

Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser has welcomed the passage of a Bill that will improve the operation and administration of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), while supporting the Government’s economic growth priorities more effectively.

Mr Groser told Parliament that the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill strikes the right balance between continuing to do our fair share and ensuring the cost of the ETS does not impact unreasonably on New Zealanders.

Trade Minister Tim Groser today welcomed participants at the World Wine Trade Group (WWTG) annual meeting held in Auckland.

The WWTG is a grouping of trade negotiators, regulators and industry representatives from eight  ‘new world’ wine-producing countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Georgia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States, who together represent a third of global wine exports. 

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser announced today that the Government is looking to clarify the domestic carry-over provisions in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

“I have requested that officials look into the carry-over provisions and what needs to be done under the Act.

“Clarifying the rules for carry-over of international units would provide ETS participants with certainty about how the international carry-over rules will be applied domestically,” says Mr Groser.

Tim Groser, Trade Minister and Minister for Climate Change Issues, departs today for Indonesia and South Korea for trade policy and international climate change discussions.

In Jakarta Mr Groser will attend the World Export Development Forum where he will discuss New Zealand’s experience in meeting the demands of new consumer markets, particularly in emerging and developing economies.

Trade Minister Tim Groser welcomes the announcement of the appointment of Tim Anderson as Trade Commissioner to Indonesia.

“This appointment will assist in taking New Zealand’s relationship with Indonesia to the next level. With 240 million people, Indonesia has the world’s fourth largest population and is the largest economy in the region, accounting for over one third of ASEAN’s GDP. It is expected to be one of the world’s top 10 economies by 2030,” Mr Groser says.

Trade Minister Tim Groser departs today to the United States and Canada for trade policy and climate change discussions.

In Washington Mr Groser will give a key address to the Coalition of Service Industries, along with his US, Canadian, Korean and Costa Rican trade counterparts. He will also discuss progress in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations with trade contacts and engage in a range of TPP and climate change outreach activities.

In Ottawa, Mr Groser will call on the Ministers of Trade, Finance, Agriculture and Agri-food, and Environment.

Trade Minister Tim Groser today welcomed the announcement that New Zealand will host the next round of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations over 3-12 December.

“I am very pleased that New Zealand will host delegations from TPP countries, and that we will play a central role in welcoming Canada and Mexico, whose participation marks a significant turning point in the negotiation and aligns with the original vision to create a truly regional, high quality, comprehensive, 21st century trade and investment agreement,” Mr Groser says.

New Zealand is part of a new initiative to create a regional free trade agreement in East Asia Trade Minister Tim Groser announced today.

Mr Groser is in Siem Reap, Cambodia, attending trade meetings hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Discussions are underway for negotiations on a new 16-member free trade agreement (FTA) involving the ten members of ASEAN, as well as Australia, China, India, Korea, Japan and New Zealand.

ASEAN has now proposed creating a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) involving all 16 countries.

Trade Minister Tim Groser will travel to Asia tomorrow for a series of meetings aimed at boosting trade in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr Groser will attend the East Asia Summit Economic Ministers meeting in Cambodia, visit Thailand for bilateral discussions and then head to the annual APEC Ministerial Meeting in Vladivostok.

“The continued economic dynamism in the Asia-Pacific region, and the significance of New Zealand’s trade links there, means that New Zealand must remain fully engaged in its rapidly evolving trade architecture,” Mr Groser says.

Tēna koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai.  Welcome to Auckland.

New Zealand is delighted to be hosting this informal dialogue on climate change. We are very pleased that you could all make the long journey to our part of the world. It's great to see some old friends around the table, and to have some fresh faces here for these discussions.

A Bill to implement the amendments to New Zealand’s Emissions Trade Scheme (ETS) passed its first reading in Parliament today.

The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill intends to modify the emissions trading scheme, provide further powers to make regulations, and make some technical and operational changes.

Trade Minister Tim Groser will meet with visiting United States Senator Max Baucus this week.

Senator Baucus, of Montana, is Chair of the US Senate Finance Committee and influential in trade policy, especially in relation to free trade agreements.

“Senator Baucus’ visit presents an excellent opportunity to discuss a range of trade issues, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations,” Mr Groser says.

New Zealand and the United States are among nine countries currently participating in the TPP negotiations.