This order brings the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Legislation Act 2021 into force on 1 January 2022, which is the date on which the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (the RCEP) enters into force for New Zealand.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Legislation Act 2021 will enable—

• the issue of New Zealand certificates of origin in respect of goods for export to the RCEP parties; and

• the application of preferential tariff rates under the RCEP.

At the time of the making of this order, the text of the RCEP is available at https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-agreements/RCEP/RCEP-Agreement-Legal-Text.pdf

The RCEP will also be implemented by secondary legislation—

• to enable the application of preferential tariff rates for goods imported from specified RCEP parties; and

• to give effect to the rules of origin and product-specific rules for goods imported from specified RCEP parties.

The secondary legislation is the following:

• Customs and Excise (Rules of Origin for RCEP Goods) Amendment Regulations 2021:

• Customs and Excise (Specified RCEP Parties) Order 2021:

• Tariff (RCEP) Amendment Order 2021:

• Tariff (Specified RCEP Parties) Order 2021.