"No Ordinary Deal" Book Launch & PM Response

Tuesday, 16 November 2010, 2:24 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Audio + Images: "No Ordinary Deal" Book Launch & PM Response

Scoop Audio + Images: "No Ordinary Deal" Book Launch & PM Response

On Wednesday 10 November a group of academics, media and politicos gathered at Victoria University's Rutherford House to launch a remarkable book about the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The complete audio from the launch is contained in this report.

Published by Bridget Williams Books – a public interest book publisher – "No Ordinary Deal: Unmasking the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement" features chapters from 19 experts in different aspects of the "hot" trade deal including a chapter by Scoop.co.nz columnist Paul Buchanan. [Press Release]

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Professor Jane Kelsey and Publisher Bridget Williams

When Scoop raised a key issue from the book with Prime Minister John Key in his post-cabinet press conference on Monday the PM made a very interesting statement - effectively ruling out NZ's agreement with provisions (similar to those in NAFTA) which would enable foreign corporate investors to sue the NZ government if they were obstructed from achieving their investment intentions.

In the audio clip below the PM first describes the notion of these provisions as "far-fetched" before stating on the record that NZ would be opposed to them.

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Prime Minister John Key

• Scoop Audio (2 Minutes): Audio on Demand snippet from NZ Prime Minister John Key's post Cabinet press conference 15 November 2010. The Prime Minister answers questions about the Trans-Pacific Partnership in the context of Auckland University Professor Jane Kelsey's newly published book "No Ordinary Deal", featuring the writing of a wide range of academics critiquing the NAFTA model which lies behind the TPP negotiating texts. The PM described the authors assertion that the texts included provisions allowing for private companies to sue sovereign nations as "far-fetched". He then ruled out NZ support for any such provisions.

Audio from the presentation on 10 November follows:

• Professor Jane Kelsey's introduction

• Publisher Bridget Williams explains the publishing objectives

• Professor Jane Kelsey's remarks introducing publisher guest US Speaker Lori Wallach

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Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch Director Lori Wallach

• Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch Director Lori Wallach's presentation

• Concluding Q&A including questions from Mike Smith and the NZ Herald's Fran O'Sullivan

ENDS

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Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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