August 14, 2015
TPPA – Won’t go away
TPPA Won't go away
WILLIE JACKSON
Six months ago, most Kiwis would not have heard of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. But by the level of protest and discontent from within the community up and down Aotearoa, this issue could be another brick that brings down John Key and his National Government.
The housing – or lack it – problem has been a good score for the opposition parties who have made plenty of inroads into the Nats. That issue still has a long way to go.
And now the TPPA is another problem that is getting the whanau all worked up.
On the outside it looks like a sensible agreement between 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific region who share common goals. But those deals are done in secret so we don’t really know what they are signing us up for.
Key and his team, claim those who oppose the TPPA are anti-trade and opposed to any foreign investment. But that’s not the case and the Prime Minister would be better served by not being so flippant or dismissive.
We deserve transparency. Sure there are some things, like the Security Intelligence Service, that can’t be discussed openly – and rightly so.
But any trade deals we sign with the US or other major world players, must be open to public scrutiny.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says the agreement will “deepen economic ties between its diverse members by opening up trade in goods and services, boosting investment flows, and promoting closer links across a range of economic policy and regulatory issues”.
Five of New Zealand's top 10 trading partners (Australia, the US, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia) are involved in TPP negotiations. The East West Centre says the deal could increase New Zealand's GDP by US$2 billion (0.9 percent) by 2025.
But a major thread through the protests is by signing the TPPA, we – the government – open themselves to litigation from rich multi-national companies.
The Australian government is currently being sued by the Philip Morris tobacco company for its new plain packaging policy under an old international agreement between Australia and Hong Kong.
Even though Australia’s highest court has ruled in favour of plain packaging, the government still faces international arbitration away from the eyes of the public, and could end up paying hundreds of millions of dollars to big tobacco for trying to protect the health of its citizens.
Sounds far-fetched but true.
Also, according to a friend, he reckons we could lose control of the Reo.
That too might be a stretch but we must protect what we have at all costs.
Last week around 350 people descended on Parliament's front lawn in protest against the secretive and controversial TPPA, calling for an end.
The New Lynn office of Trade Minister Tim Grosser was also descended upon.
On Saturday, another crowd gathered in Aotea Square to voice their concern.
It’s not going to go away.
TUNE INTO PAAKIWAHA WITH WILLIE JACKSON – CURRENT AFFAIRS FROM A MAORI PERSPECTIVE – ON RADIO WAATEA MONDAY MORNING ROM 10AM – MIDDAY
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