Government’s Arrogance Over TPPA Secrecy

“Trade Minister Tim Groser has demonstrated breathtaking arrogance in dismissing concerns about the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) raised by health professionals and the general public,” says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

Thousands of people took to the streets in 21 cities and towns at the weekend to express concern about the impact of the TPPA on health care in this country. However, Mr Groser dismissed the rallies as a combination of people being misled about the deal and hardcore protesters who had opposed every trade agreement New Zealand had signed (http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/281506/tpp-'how-do-these-people-think-nz-can-earn-a-living-').

“It’s an extraordinary response from the Trade Minister to the legitimate concerns that have been raised but, unfortunately, not a surprising one,” says Mr Powell.

“Hospital specialists have tried repeatedly to raise their serious concerns over the threats of the TPPA to the independence of New Zealand’s health policy and to its impact on pharmaceutical costs but he has devalued their concerns and also ignored our calls for an independent health assessment of the trade deal. The Government has failed to give health professionals the same access to TPPA information as American drug companies, and we want to know why.

“Health professionals and the wider public want the Government to listen but Tim Groser insists on throwing a cloak of excessive secrecy over the TPPA negotiations. But he is quite okay with this excessive secrecy not applying to American drug companies.”

ENDS

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