TPPA a botch-up from the start

The TPPA was a botch-up from the start, says New Zealand First Leader and Member of Parliament for Northland Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“The Prime Minister must explain why he did a disservice to New Zealanders by talking up billion dollar gains from the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement to the New Zealand public.

“He should have known we stood no chance against trillion dollar protectionism of US, Canadian and Japanese famers, and Corporate Power wanting to tie nations into servitude on many counts, and a loss of sovereignty.

“There was never going to be any leeway for New Zealand but Mr Key and Trade Minister Tim Groser kept working to accommodate their new buddies, the US.

“The problem for Mr Groser was that he was embarrassingly out of touch with the New Zealand public and a substantial part of National’s rural support base.

“There should be no more of the TPPA. New Zealand needs to negotiate only with like-minded countries that are prepared to open up to fair trade arrangements.”

New Zealand borders are open, which begs the question “just what was it we had to negotiate?” says Mr Peters.

“As the Guardian has revealed, Corporate Power poured millions into US politicians’ pockets to promote the TPPA and vote ‘yes’ to fast tracking.

“All this shows is that Prime Minister Key and Trade Minister Groser cannot read a seriously straightforward international commercial situation.

“Clearly, being a banker and a currency speculator doesn’t prepare one for this type of environment.

“The deal makers simply couldn’t do the deal.

“More importantly, if they understood the American political environment everything is off until the 2016 presidential election in the US.”

ENDS

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