Folding on the TPP

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, September 23rd, 2015 - 39 comments
Categories: capitalism, Globalisation, International, john key, trade - Tags: , , ,

As last ditch efforts to pass the TPP continue, Key is softening us up to sign a bad deal, apparently just for the sake of signing something – anything:

John Key: TPP will be ‘best we can do’

Prime Minister John Key has given a guarded view of New Zealand’s chance of striking the “high quality” deal it has always sought in the 12 nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade and investment negotiations, saying that “at least it will be the very best we can do.”

In other words the big boys stole our lunch money, and we just have to suck it up.

Two other pieces yesterday remind us of the likely costs of the TPP to this country. The cost to sovereignty:

TPPA could empower rejected foreign investors in legal challenges

Under a Trans Pacific Partnership deal, foreign investors in New Zealand could be able to take international legal action against a government decision such as that which rejected a Chinese company’s bid for Lochinver Station, says an Auckland Law School senior lecturer.

And the cost of our increased exposure to the price of medication:

CEO who raised price of AIDS drug more than $700 calls journalist a ‘moron’ for asking why

Ever since an HIV/AIDS patient advocacy group began raising questions last week about why Turing Pharmaceuticals jacked up the price for a medication from $US13.50 per pill to $US750 overnight, anger against the company has been boiling over.
…
John Carroll [editor of Fierce Biotech]… tweeted, “Let’s see if we can get a statement from @MartinShkreli. Martin, your co. just hiked the price of an old drug – new to you – by 5000%. Why?” To which Shkreli responded, “@JohnCFierce You are such a moron.”

That last bit is such a nice touch don’t you think? If you ask why a drug company is gouging usurious profits for life-saving medicine you’re a moron. Because they can, that’s why.

So that’s two examples – just yesterday – of the risks of the TPP. Challenges to our legal sovereignty and increased exposure to rapacious costs. All in the name of dairy access that is “the best we can do”, which appears to be 3/5 of fuck all. Outstanding.

39 comments on “Folding on the TPP ”

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  1. Rae 1
    23 September 2015 at 7:11 am

    Anyone who needs any further convincing should just take in what Turing Pharmaceuticals is doing. TPPA is likely to set that sort of evil in stone.

    Just another Key vanity project

    • Paul 1.1
      23 September 2015 at 7:26 am

      John Key was appointed by his banking masters to get the TPP signed for them.
      Like Cameron, he is a puppet of more powerful forces.
      And we’ve just seen what happens if you don’t follow their orders.
      Key will sign the TPP or he’ll get his version of pork delivered.

    • AmaKiwi 1.2
      23 September 2015 at 7:43 am

      The TPPA will become law if a majority of the Nat CAUCUS approve it.

      Got that? Not a majority of parliament. A majority of the caucus which is Key plus 30 of his sock puppets. 27% of the MPs is all that is required to impose this nightmare on 4 million of us.

      How did this happen? Because MPs make the rules about what MPs can do and MPs have decided they can do anything they damn well like.

      Democracy my ass. It’s long overdue for us to change our form of government so the people are sovereign over parliament. That means binding referendums and not on b.s. like Key’s flag fiasco but on REAL issues like TPPA, asset sales, going to war, raising taxes, and so forth.

      • ianmac 1.2.1
        23 September 2015 at 8:53 am

        I thought it was a Cabinet decision?

      • northshoredoc 1.2.2
        23 September 2015 at 8:53 am

        “Democracy my ass. It’s long overdue for us to change our form of government so the people are sovereign over parliament. That means binding referendums and not on b.s. like Key’s flag fiasco but on REAL issues like TPPA, asset sales, going to war, raising taxes, and so forth.”

        Yeah good luck with that.

    • northshoredoc 1.3
      23 September 2015 at 8:51 am

      This issue was discussed fairly extensively yesterday.

      http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-22092015/#comment-1073094

      To suggest this is likely to happen under the TPPA is misguided at best.

      • Lanthanide 1.3.1
        23 September 2015 at 12:12 pm

        Actually it appears this price hike already does affect NZ.

        There was a snippet on Morning Report this morning, which said that the drug is already on Pharmac’s approved list, but that patients must buy it from overseas first. Then Pharmac will reimburse the patient for something like $38 for 50 pills. Given the pills previously cost something like $20-25 NZ each, it was a joke of a subsidy, but now obviously it’s completely unaffordable for NZers.

    • Anno1701 1.4
      23 September 2015 at 2:25 pm

      Turing to roll back pricing for Daraprim amid controversy

      http://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/22/oll-back-pricing-for-daraprim-amid-controversy.html

      looks like the media/public pressure worked

  2. Pat 2
    23 September 2015 at 7:27 am

    It would appear our only hope is the big boys cant agree as we will sign anything put in front of us

    • AmaKiwi 2.1
      23 September 2015 at 7:49 am

      Our only hope is to demand democracy. That will probably require a leader like Jeremy Corbyn, Bernie Sanders, Yanis Voroufakis, Elizabeth Warren, or alike.

  3. Penny Bright 3
    23 September 2015 at 7:51 am

    Ok folks – if you’re in Auckland and want to put pressure on this John Key led National Government NOT to sign the TPPA – come to Auckland University TODAY between 12 noon and 5pm to sign a petition with BIG sharp pointy political teeth that CANNOT be ignored!

    WHEN: Wednesday 23 September 2015.
    TIME: 12 noon till 5pm
    WHERE: Outside Auckland University / Symonds St / Grafton Rd

    This petition focuses on the one thing politicians understand – VOTES!

    Petition wording:

    “To the MP for Auckland Central – Nikki Kaye

    We, the undersigned state:

    That if this John Key led National Government does not ‘walk away’ from the secretive, undemocratic, pro-corporate ‘Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), then we pledge to campaign vigorously amongst our friends, families, neighbours and workmates, for the voting public to ‘walk away’ from National.”

    So – if YOU are fiercely opposed to this John Key led National Government signing away our sovereignty – don’t AGONISE – help us ORGANISE and collect signatures today!

    Cut and paste this message and send it to everyone you know who’s at Auckland Uni!

    Cut and paste this message / Facebook it / email / text it – FAR and WIDE!

    We want to present 100 petition sheets with 20 signatures per sheet to Nikki Kaye’s Electorate Secretary – tomorrow – Thursday 24 September 2015.

    It’s the masses who get off their asses – who help make history!

    How many signatures can YOU help get?

    Looking forward to a steady stream of students and concerned citizens queuing up to sign this petition – this afternoon!

    I understand John Key and Tim Groser will be making an appearance. … 😉

    It will be FUN!

    Penny Bright

  4. RedBaronCV 4
    23 September 2015 at 8:05 am

    They’ll sign anything. Lets hope some of the other big countries won’t.

    Now I hope the unions have been busy registering a company in Australia, all members one cent shareholders and the minute the government touches workers rights adversely that little overseas company can sue them – hopefully. Now, would it be possible to reister Phartmac oveseas and other parts of the health social and enviromental necessities.

    • dv 4.1
      23 September 2015 at 8:11 am

      Do you know if that has been done anywhere?
      Interesting idea.

      • vto 4.1.1
        23 September 2015 at 8:15 am

        Everybody should do that with their business. We have already prepared for such – relocate offshore and then come back in as a foreigner. Foreigners get more and better rights in NZ than New Zealanders.

        I encourage everybody to relocate offshore with their business.

        It is what John Key would do, wouldn’t he – such are the principles he lives by. In fact, he almost certainly already has

        • northshoredoc 4.1.1.1
          23 September 2015 at 8:55 am

          “Foreigners get more and better rights in NZ than New Zealanders.”

          Not in terms of access to free healthcare or education……and i doubt whether they do with anything else.

          • vto 4.1.1.1.1
            23 September 2015 at 9:09 am

            The subject matter was the TPPA doc. And foreigners get more and better rights. For example, take two investors in two factory making fertiliser – one foreign and one NZ.

            The government then changes the fertiliser regulations meaning the factory is redundant.

            The foreign investor can sue the government for lost future profits due to that regulation change. The NZ investor has nothing and must suck it up.

            This is fact doc. I put it to Wayne Mapp on here a while ago and his pathetic response was that NZ investors have access to NZ courts already to sue the government for changing regulations and lost future profits…….. so they don’t need the ISDS provisions that foreigners get…

            … tell me doc, what do you think the chances are of such a claim even making it past the front door of the High Court for a New Zealander?

      • RedBaronCV 4.1.2
        23 September 2015 at 7:52 pm

        I don’t know if it has been done elsewhere but the idea of using loopholes for us citizens to get the same protection is endlessly appealing to me.

  5. Tautoko Mangō Mata 5
    23 September 2015 at 8:13 am

    If the TPPA is signed, I predict civil disobedience on a scale approaching that which hasn’t been seen since the 1981 Springbok tour about which John Key can’t remember much.
    Sovereignty is something that people are sent to war to defend . Sovereignty is not to be signed away in secret. Allowing the public to make submissions after the deal is already signed with no changes allowed , followed by the Cabinet ratification will be followed by consequences.

    • AmaKiwi 5.1
      23 September 2015 at 8:32 am

      @ Tautoko

      I hope and pray you are correct.

      I also think Penny Bright is correct to directly target National MPs, particularly in marginal seats.

      Our 19th century system of governmental decision making must change. TPPA might be the impetus to replace elected dictators with democracy.

      • Tautoko Mangō Mata 5.1.1
        23 September 2015 at 9:00 am

        @Amakiwi
        I hope that situation will not come to pass.
        I also applaud Penny Bright’s targeting of National voters. Although Penny attracts plenty of flak for her protesting, she is to be admired for her commitment to fair and proper process and her loyalty to the people of this country- which contrasts markedly with John Key’s commitment to those who he thinks will enhance his personal popularity, influence the other members of the rich and famous club or get him the royal title that he craves.

  6. Ad 6
    23 September 2015 at 9:40 am

    Labour needs to knock on the door of Fedrated Farmers, who are the outstanding lobbyists of their generation.

    They, together with Fonterra, are the only players that government will listen to now. Those two should seek to permanently landfill any attempt at reviving this.

    The Lochinver sale decline was a signal this government can listen, really listen , to farming interests on economic and political grounds.

    Get to those guys, Labour.

  7. Draco T Bastard 7
    23 September 2015 at 12:34 pm

    and now they’re spinning the spin:

    He acknowledged that comments from Prime Minister John Key on Monday, that whatever deal was achieved would be “at least the very best we can do”, had been interpreted as a sign of a poor deal on dairy in the offing, but told BusinessDesk “we’re in anything other than capitulation mode”.

    It would, however, “not be a gold-plated deal”.

    “Basically, the situation is that I and my negotiators can see a very good deal for New Zealand in everything except dairy and I don’t know to characterise the deal there because it’s not a deal we could accept,” said Groser.

    And further down:

    “Is there a better alternative? Successive governments have tried to do bilateral FTAs (free-trade agreements) with Canada, Japan, Mexico and the US for 30 years and have completely failed,” said Groser. “With these four giant countries, it’s this or nothing.”

    He seems to have conveniently forgotten about GATT which morphed into the WTO and which was actually there to get rid of the bi-lateral agreements. We were supposed to have equivalent rules around the globe years ago.

    • Pat 7.1
      23 September 2015 at 12:55 pm

      no deal is far superior to a bad deal….is that so difficult for Grosser to comprehend?

      • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1.1
        23 September 2015 at 4:48 pm

        It’s easy for him to comprehend that lucrative business opportunities await him when he leaves office. That’s what the National Party is for.

        • Pat 7.1.1.1
          23 September 2015 at 9:15 pm

          sad but true…..perhaps the french were right

          • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1.1.1.1
            23 September 2015 at 9:28 pm

            That seems unlikely. That said, any country with an independent police and judiciary can be free of National Party values. The graft, the corruption, the Cabinet Club legislation auction: they’re all illegal right now.

            • Pat 7.1.1.1.1.1
              23 September 2015 at 9:42 pm

              unlikely the french were right?…the graft, corruption and partisanship may be illegal but they continue unprosecuted

  8. Henry Filth 8
    23 September 2015 at 4:44 pm

    The investor – state provisions could be quite useful in dealing with the socialist, subsidized US farming industry.

    Maybe the Canadians too.