Kiwi businesses out in support of TPP negotiations

3 December 2012 MEDIA RELEASE

Kiwi businesses out in support of TPP negotiations

More than 50 business leaders from some of New Zealand’s largest and most successful companies and business organisations have expressed their support for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations currently underway between eleven APEC economies.

In an open letter to Prime Minister John Key, the business leaders underlined the importance of international trade and investment for New Zealand. “The signatories to the open letter represent a cross section across all major export sectors in New Zealand, including agriculture, forestry, fishing, horticulture, wine, manufacturing, technology and Maori business. Together they either directly employ, or their members employ, an enormous number of Kiwis,” said Chairman of the New Zealand International Business Forum, Sir Graeme Harrison.

“These business leaders welcome the TPP round taking place in Auckland this week and commend negotiators from the TPP economies for their efforts to conclude a future agreement which should bring benefits for all member economies”.

“The group is aware the negotiation poses challenges for New Zealand policy settings in a number of areas and that the negotiation is complex. We have confidence that Trade Minister Tim Groser and his officials will seek solutions that meet New Zealand’s national interests.”

“We see great advantages for New Zealand arising from a future agreement that is high quality, comprehensive and ambitious, one that eliminates trade barriers, lowers the cost of doing business and makes improvements to the way regional supply chains can link producers and consumers in the region.” The open letter coincides with the launch of a new business-led initiative, Trade Works, a website (www.tradeworks.org.nz) to help Kiwis better understand the benefits of trade and investment for New Zealand, and understand the potential benefits of TPP. Funding for the website has been provided by the NZ US Council and the website has been built with the support of thirteen business organisations representing the main export sectors.

“The Council and its partners see value from an effort to create a TPP which meets business and wider needs and reflects the way business is being done today and will be done in the future. This will assist economic growth and job creation in New Zealand. Our new website signals that we are also ready to participate with other members of civil society in a dialogue about how TPP can contribute to what it is best for New Zealand,” said Chairman of the NZ US Council, Rt Hon James Bolger.

ENDS

3 December 2012 Rt Hon John Key Prime Minister Parliament Buildings WELLINGTON

Dear Prime Minister

We, the leaders of major New Zealand companies and leading business organisations, write to underline the importance of international trade and investment for New Zealand and to express our support for the Trans Pacifi c Partnership (TPP) negotiations now underway amongst eleven APEC economies. Trade is New Zealand’s life blood. Trade rules uphold fairness in the global economy and enhance the ability of New Zealand companies to do business internationally. For this reason we welcome negotiators from the TPP economies who are meeting in Auckland this week and we commend them for their efforts to conclude a future agreement which should bring benefi ts for all member economies.

We are conscious that TPP is a work in progress and that judgement about the fi nal outcome needs to be withheld until negotiators have fi nished their work. Our aim in writing is to endorse the effort now underway and to outline our conviction that this effort should continue in the interests of building a more prosperous and sustainable Asia Pacifi c region and of ensuring that business can play its full part in the region’s continuing recovery and future economic growth.

We are aware that the negotiation poses challenges for New Zealand policy settings in a number of areas. The same is true for other participating economies. We know the negotiation is complex. We have confi dence that Trade Minister Groser and his offi cials will seek solutions which meet New Zealand’s national interests. We note that the treaty ratifi cation process requires there to be consultation on the negotiated outcome before its adoption by Parliament.

We see great advantages for New Zealand arising from a future agreement that is high quality, comprehensive and ambitious, one that eliminates trade barriers, lowers the cost of doing business and makes improvements to the way regional supply chains can link producers and consumers in the region. In particular we see value from an effort to create an agreement which meets business and wider needs and refl ects the way business is being done today and will be done in the future. This will assist economic growth and job creation in New Zealand.

We stand ready to assist negotiators in this effort and to participate with other members of civil society in a dialogue about how TPP can contribute to what is best for our country, its people and the people of the wider region to which we belong.

Rt Hon James Bolger, ONZ Graeme Harrison, KNZM Chairman, NZ US Council Chairman, NZ International Business Forum OPEN LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE TPP negotiations Mark Adamson Chief Executive Fletcher Building Limited Malcolm Bailey Chairman, Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand Michael Barnett Chief Executive Auckland Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry Eric Barratt Chair, Seafood New Zealand Managing Director, Sandford Limited Catherine Beard Executive Director Manufacturing New Zealand and Export New Zealand Frances Benge Head of Primary Care & Country Lead/Managing Director Pfi zer New Zealand Ltd Wayne Boyd Member ABAC New Zealand Kim Campbell Chief Executive Employers and Manufacturers Northern Scott Champion Chief Executive Beef + Lamb New Zealand Barbara Chapman Chief Executive ASB Bank Limited Peter Clark Chief Executive PF Olsen Limited Mark Clarkson Managing Director ANZCO Foods Keith Cooper Chief Executive Silver Fern Farms Erica Crawford President, Canada New Zealand Business Association Managing Director, Loveblock Vintners Grant Cuff Chief Executive Alliance Group Ltd Peter Davie President Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Michael Daniell Chief Executive Offi cer Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited Doug Ducker Chairman Wood Council of New Zealand Tony Egan Managing Director Greenlea Premier Meats W J Falconer Chairman Meat Industry Association of New Zealand Sir William Gallagher Chairman/Chief Executive Gallagher Group Philip Gregan Chief Executive NZ Winegrowers Geoff Hipkins Chief Executive Offi cer Turners & Growers Ltd Murray Jack Chairman Deloitte Stephen Jacobi Executive Director NZ US Council and NZ International Business Forum Lain Jager Chief Executive Zespri International Limited Te Horipo Karaitiana Chief Executive Federation of Maori Authorities Brian Lynch Chairman NZ Horticulture Export Authority Ian McCrae Chief Executive Orion Health Sir Peter Maire Chairman Fusion Transactive Tony Nowell Chairman Wellington Drive Technologies ABAC Regional Economic Integration Working Group Matt O’Regan Chairman Westland Milk Products Phil O’Reilly Chief Executive BusinessNZ Frank Owen Chief Executive Offi cer Tait Communications Mike Petersen Chairman Beef + Lamb New Zealand Rod Quin Chief Executive Westland Milk Products Maxine Simmons Member ABAC New Zealand Paul Smith Director New Zealand Merck Sharp & Dohme (New Zealand) Limited Theo Spierings Chief Executive Fonterra Co-operative Group Brian Stanley Chairman Wood Processors Association of New Zealand Joe Stanton CEO/President Constellation Brands New Zealand Limited Sir Ken Stevens Chairman Export New Zealand and Glidepath Group Graham Stuart Chief Executive Sealord Products Ltd Stephen Titter President American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand Inc Peter Townsend Chief Executive Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Sir Henry van der Heyden Chairman Fonterra Co-operative Group Sir James Wallace Chairman Wallace Corporation Harvey Weake Chief Executive Methanex NZ Ltd $ O’R ill J St t FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: www. tradeworks. org. nz

ends

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