Further meetings about the TPPA were held around the country on the weekend. More actions are being held this week in Christchurch and Wellington (see below).
First, some commentary from the meetings on the weekend,
… there are more similar agreements in the pipeline (RCP with Asian countries; the re-working of the China FTA; the deal with the EU; one with Sth and central American countries)
submit to the NZ select committee after the agreement is signed in Chile on March 8 – when some of the contents will be published – say “no” to re-activating the clauses put on hold – the US will try to revive them
say “no” to ISDS clauses in any future agreements
there is no protection against being sued by corporates for climate change measures; Treaty-related legislation; legislation for better workers’ rights; health care legislation, etc, etc
… I estimate there were around 300+ people there.
I also recall going to some anti-TPPA demos in Auckland in recent years where the turnout was small. the big demo came in more recent years.
We are in a re-grouping phase. Kelsey praised us for what has been achieved – delaying the TPPA for several years, for example, and the big demos. The message to us was to continue to hold the line
You can sign the petition at dontdoit.nz, they want 5,000 signatures before the signing day on the 8th. They currently have 4,650.
Far fewer people turned out at the anti CPTPP rally today than those when National was in power. It’s essentially still the same deal that @jacindaardern called ‘a dog’ when in Opposition. If you don’t believe the @nzlabour spin, sign this: https://t.co/CmqgRZl2mfpic.twitter.com/54Wq1abkeA
“The results overwhelming show the public support for the government to take a second, independent, look at the agreement before they sign us up to a deal which could restrict the ability of our government to make laws in the public interest” says ActionStation spokesperson Rick Zwaan.
Mikey Brenndorfer – speaking on the health analysis:
Moana Maniapoto – speaking on holding the lines, and Te Tiriti, and independent analysis:
Bryan Bruce – speaking on the implications of the TPPA and similar trade deals, and on why trickle down theory doesn’t work internationally either:
Tell me again how free trade works?
Laila Harre – speaking on holding the lines and labour rights:
Jane Kelsey – speaking on the spin, current state of play and actions needed moving forward:
Last week Christchurch group Our Children’s Futurelocked themselves to train tracks to protest the TPPA,
Background to the week of action, and the state of play regarding the TPPA, is at It’s Our Future.
On Thursday the 8th of March (signing day), we invite you to join us outside of Parliament at lunchtime to send a strong resounding message to the government that we do not want the TPPA or any similar trade deals in the future. It’s our future – the future of our children, we want truly progressive trade deals!
Our Nationwide Day of Action has morphed into a Nationwide Week of Action
We demonstrably do have a liar ( in fact two) in power, as to fetishist, who know’s and regardless – what people do in their own time is their business.
No , no ,… no,… I’m afraid your confusing this govt with the last poor excuse for one that was recently ousted…
As for the TTPA 2… well,… yes its time to roll up ones sleeves and put the ultimatum , – we don’t want it , -and if you want to stay on side with the people of this country , – DON’T DO IT !!!
Got a few things to do this arvy but will be signing.
As for lies, if you actually followed what I said during the campaign, I attacked labour for their economic policy over and over. So really your comments about lies, stunned mullet is ideological, and just not correct. .
I was disappointed when National failed to get back in but that blows been softened considerably by Labours many about faces since they’ve been in power
Sure I would have preferred National but National-lite is ok with me
No , it means they have not truly comprehended the public outcry and the ensuing outcome and fate that the last dictatorial government suffered partially because of it ,…
RNZ coverage of TPP protests – YouTube
john campbell coverage of TPPA protests youtube▶ 2:26:32
Yes indeed, however , the last protests were an indication of public feeling then , – and the way it is was being rammed through… the latest rounds may just be an eye opener.
I think you’re being a little uncharitable there. There is a phenomenon where some people don’t care about things they thought were bad if “their team” now supports them. It is one of the bad things about our lot getting into government. I’d say that and uncritically buying the Labour line about how they “improved” the deal is why opposition to (CPA)TPP is so much quieter atm.
natural ebbs and flows too. Some people will be feeling like it’s a done deal so what is the point of protesting. I like the regrouping message from the organisers.
I think that’s the value in continued protests even if they are just small (and yet backed by the 75% poll). It keeps the issue on the agenda, and allows those deeper conversations to happen.
Trick now is, what direction do we want those conversations to go?
I suspect some Labour members or supporters don’t want to challenge the government now labour is finally leading it.
However, I would point out that at the Aotea Square meeting on Sunday, Laila Harre spoke about being a Labour party member, while also publicly opposing the latest TPPA-11.
Moana Maniapoto talked about how she celebrated when Labour formed a government with NZF and Greens as support. She cracked open the wine. She said that this government is and will do many good things. but that we should still hold them to account when necessary.
I’m not suggesting theres anything wrong in owning multiple houses I’m merely using that link as a round about way to suggest that this government is using the media to lull everybody to sleep and to not worry about hard decisions
I had hoped there would have been large numbers of people showing up to various demonstrations, not with illusions that the signing of the TPP could be averted, but more to let the government know it had been put on notice for signing it.
“Let’s not do this” when we’re talking about a done deal, struck me and strikes me as an odd piece of messaging – one that doesn’t exactly give people a worthwhile reason to turn out.
After all, when the horse has bolted, what’s the point in rushing to the stable doors?
You make a good point, Bill. Howver, I get that it is an echo of Labour’s election slogan “Let’s Do This”.
But also, it’s not over yet. First the relevant Bill has still to go through Parliament, and we are being encouraged to submit to the select committee – for some that could mean as little as a paragraph stating opposition to the agreement.
Also, if you look at the It’s Our Future site, there’s a drop down menu (“Other Agreements”) focused on upcoming agreements with some similar dodgy elements. Kelsey flagged this in her speech in Auckland at the weekend. there’s TISA, the RCEP, and an update of the NZ-China free trade agreement.
Also, it’s inevitable that there will be a drop off in momentum. A recent poll show people want an independent analysis of the TPPA – I guess in the light of Labour-NZF doing their about turn on it. Some people want more info. And it is hard to keep up momentum over time there will be lulls and resurgences.
And the US/Trump is looking like wanting back in, which will re-activate the suspended sections – probably with a vengeance.
3 – 0 down. 5 min left on the clock. “It’s not over yet.”
Except, as far as the TTP goes, it is over. The Bill will sail through Parliament on tail winds created by NZ Labour and the National Party.
True, that’s not necessary the case with other Agreements. Though National and NZ Labour will keep on supplying those tail winds – unless or until the anti is upped on NZ Labour and it’s made abundantly clear to them that by signing such deals they sign their own death warrant in terms of electability.
But do enough people care enough? Do enough people understand well enough to use the only Parliamentary leverage available and commit to voting Green? Will the Green Party go loud and proud with its opposition?
Parker has spouted tosh about fantastic negotiating that changed everything when in fact nothing of substance was altered. And he got away with it! How come?
It all sounds terribly dismal, I know, but…
On the bright side, the world is shifting, and the formerly secure liberal consensus of that muddled middle that gave us “Blair” and “Third Way” and Clinton’s “triangulations” is getting washed out.
NZ might be a shore somewhat distant to that wave. But it will arrive. And it doesn’t have to hit these shores before having an effect, given that it takes a number of partners to dance that “free trade” jig 😉
Make no mistake, it is exactly the same txt as the original agreement by the National party but has a few pages added onto that suspends some provisions mostly on health that they can just stop suspending if they rejoin.
The ISDS is still in there. There is NO protection of ISDS at all. Apparently there may be for a few countries in the side letters so there is still NO protection for this in the agreement.
The EU has now said they will NOT allow ISDS clauses in their agreements any longer. Pity the Labour government can show some guts and actually do the same instead of the weak and feeble approach, like National.
The US mandated that climate change was removed from every part of TPPA. When they left, NZ under the Labour and NZ First Government DID NOT put in climate change clauses.
This is AFTER Jacinda Ardern saying that climate change was her issue of the 21st century. (Obviously leaving Parker in charge is not working if that is true).
The PM will be judged by this agreement, so it is Jacinda’s name as the number one person who was a hypocrite, when it all goes wrong with climate change and NZ will be unable to act quickly due to this type of dinosaur agreement to protect corporation profits now and in the future, not the people who live in the country or this environment.
On average the ISDS clauses are used once a week around the world. As resources get fewer the corporations are keener to protect their profits and their lawyers thinking of new ways to profit from them.
It takes the decision making on these legal matters AWAY from NZ legislation. It is not even a real court that is used, it’s a business type tribunal.
India was unable to do solar panels to help it’s climate change obligations under the free trade agreements it was part of.
If the WTO restricts buy local, I wonder if the Indians have considered copying the Americans and applying tariffs on imported solar panels so they are not competitively priced?
NAFTA’s Chapter 11 Makes Canada Most-Sued Country Under Free Trade Tribunals
“Canada is the most-sued country under the North American Free Trade Agreement and a majority of the disputes involve investors challenging the country’s environmental laws, according to a new study.’
The upgrade to the FTA with China should not be much of a problem, it is just asking that we get access on the same (better) terms they later gave Oz.
We can offer support for (their) RCEP and continued support for One Belt if they agree. RCEP is just a total in package of existing FTA (with China and ASEAN) expanded to include others (such as India).
The South Americans will not push corporate rights and the EU is not the threat in these matters that the US is.
TPP is a done deal, maybe a push to have the government and opposition agree to block US admission to TPP unless it is on existing terms (the US does not get what they would have if they signed up now) would be useful.
RCEP is not uncontroversial. There is a very good opportunity to improve it and shape it into a better deal with our participation, but it would require Labour and New Zealand First living up to their rhetoric on trade, and actually trying to export some of our values around labour rights and environmentalism overseas.
While the RCEP negotiations to date do not appear to go as far as the TPPA, risks that have been identified so far are inclusion of Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions and a likely impact on the availability of medicines.
The RCEP negotiations are officially due to be finished by the end of the year. In reality, however, commentators predict that the agreement will take much longer to conclude, if at all, due to competing visions for the agreement and the very different strategic interests of the parties.
TISA is a radical extension of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). It binds countries to a neoliberal regime for services.
The Trade in Services Agreement (“TiSA”) is a proposed agreement to roll back regulation of international trade in services. There are 23 countries involved in the negotiations, the most significant being the EU (who negotiate as a single bloc) and the US.
…
if it is agreed to, it will have a big effect on New Zealand’s ability both to regulate in the public interest and to support local organisations to provide service to the New Zealand public.
In a nutshell, the idea of TiSA is to make it easier for service providers (such banks, insurance companies, internet service provider, freight companies and healthcare providers) to sell their services to consumers in another country. This would be done by stripping away regulations and other practices which get in the way of corporate profits.
On the NZ-China-FTA update, nothing on the webpage yet. but under the RCEP page it says:
At one end, New Zealand, Australia and Japan are pushing for an [RCEP] agreement with tough rules similar to the TPPA, including for investment and trade in services. At the other end, China is reportedly pushing for a more traditional free trade agreement focusing on reductions in tariffs on goods.
If Labour can be convinced to hold the line against ISDS in any future FTA, where New Zealand take China’s side on this vs Japan/Oz in RCEP talks in return for their upgrading our access to their market to what they gave Oz in their FTA, there is a win win for us.
We have to be partner fluid/straddle the two sides to realise what is best for us.
And as for the USA coming into TPP – why not have Labour oppose this unless there is a side deal where we and the US have a mutual opt out of ISDS?
The problem with this umbrella corporation lead type global trading approach, which this latest step is a further ratcheting up of, is that it an approach based on all the wonders of socialism efficiency and dynamism, without the govt aspect.
The Chinese, for all the weightage of the structural cul-de sacs that they have ( & for the significance of the challenge that brings, it is of note that the situation there has changed to indefinite terms of power), at least have a nationalistic govt with power to provide some overview to things in their population’s interest.
So another relative win for China in the wings with the global trading positions, which it can not be blamed for taking the opportunities of when served up to them voluntarily, by anchorless power structures.
which it [China] can not be blamed for taking the opportunities of when served up to them voluntarily, by anchorless power structures.
Would you class the signing by the National Government in May 2017 during the visit by Xi Jinping of an MOU with China on mutual BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) development as being such an opportunity?
I don’t recall any great concern, protests etc on this at the time.
Here is a recent update just a few days ago, which claims amongst other things that NZ’s signing this MOU was out of step with Australia (who refused to sign such an MOU) and India, Japan and the US.
If you followed the election campaign closely and the promises made by Jacinda and Labour, then there was no reason not to vote for Labour. They made all the right principled noises and sounded like they wanted to make positive change.
However there was always that suspicion that they are still the tired old mob from 1984.
And within 6 months they do this. Sign up to a treaty the marched on the streets against. Even worse than that they lied by claiming the minor adjustments were something they negotiated whereas now it seems the Tories had already negotiated everything.
This broken promise has left me deflated about this government.
I am going to increase my donations to the Green Party as they need to become much more influential heading into 2020.
Occidental v. Ecuador
In October 2012, an ICSID tribunal awarded a judgment of $1.8 billion for Occidental Petroleum against the government of Ecuador.[42] Additionally, Ecuador had to pay $589 million in backdated compound interest and half of the costs of the tribunal, making its total penalty around $2.4 billion.[42] The South American country annulled a contract with the oil firm on the grounds that it violated a clause that the company would not sell its rights to another firm without permission. The tribunal agreed the violation took place but judged that the annulment was not fair and equitable treatment to the company.[42]
Putting people’s fates into a bunch of lawyers is never a good idea. Law mostly benefits the rich.
Have a look at the Little vs Hagaman case. Even though Little was found not guilty, the Haganman went back for another trial.
In this way, it is not about a person (or country) being right or wrong when you are encouraging litigation, it is about power imbalances and using the law to imbalance, disrupt and scare freedom of speech, while delegating decision making to others to decide a person or (countries) fate.
It’s about to get a lot worse in NZ! Already the councils are out of control, imagine what they will do after this agreement is signed, more and more environmental degradation and decisions to empower rich and take and marginalise the poor.
Now they have an agreement for multinational chemical and oil companies among other’s, to join in the subjugation!
You are dead right and given the tax $$ of this TPP mess you can expect more tax gouging of the average Kiwi from the political parasites to pay for it all in years to come.
Socialism for the rich, capitalism for everyone else.
Perhaps we were all being naive after 30+ years of politicians ignoring the wishes of voters to think that the situation would suddenly, magically, be transformed after the recent election.
All this really proves is voting is participation in your own oppression and those of others. Suffice to say I’m done with these creeps for good unless by some miracle a group with integrity turns up but after all this time I wont hold my breath.
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It’s all different now. So you can see those protests weren’t really TPP protests, but an avenue to protest the National govt.
The agreement is going to be signed regardless.
Look on the brightside, at least we no longer have a liar, and fetishist in power.
We demonstrably do have a liar ( in fact two) in power, as to fetishist, who know’s and regardless – what people do in their own time is their business.
No , no ,… no,… I’m afraid your confusing this govt with the last poor excuse for one that was recently ousted…
As for the TTPA 2… well,… yes its time to roll up ones sleeves and put the ultimatum , – we don’t want it , -and if you want to stay on side with the people of this country , – DON’T DO IT !!!
Got a few things to do this arvy but will be signing.
Well you boy went public with his.
As for lies, if you actually followed what I said during the campaign, I attacked labour for their economic policy over and over. So really your comments about lies, stunned mullet is ideological, and just not correct. .
I was disappointed when National failed to get back in but that blows been softened considerably by Labours many about faces since they’ve been in power
Sure I would have preferred National but National-lite is ok with me
Well, not entirely. If NZF was not in the position it was in, Labour would have rubbished a lot more, like the 90 day trial.
So next election, I suspect NZF may not be needed. Then you will get true Labour.
Does this mean fake Labour are leading us now?
No , it means they have not truly comprehended the public outcry and the ensuing outcome and fate that the last dictatorial government suffered partially because of it ,…
RNZ coverage of TPP protests – YouTube
john campbell coverage of TPPA protests youtube▶ 2:26:32
How about actually identifying the date of that video – 9 November 2015.
Much bigger turn-out to the latest CP-TPP marches from what I have heard and seen from videos posted on the Facebook pages.
Yes indeed, however , the last protests were an indication of public feeling then , – and the way it is was being rammed through… the latest rounds may just be an eye opener.
I think you’re being a little uncharitable there. There is a phenomenon where some people don’t care about things they thought were bad if “their team” now supports them. It is one of the bad things about our lot getting into government. I’d say that and uncritically buying the Labour line about how they “improved” the deal is why opposition to (CPA)TPP is so much quieter atm.
natural ebbs and flows too. Some people will be feeling like it’s a done deal so what is the point of protesting. I like the regrouping message from the organisers.
I doubt that very much.
It was purely anti National protests.
I think this is a great opportunity for young people to realise that liberalism is the real enemy.
All that caring language, and tokenism really adds up to bugger all for working people.
If we organise outside the state, then we are not bound by these silly little rules.
I think that’s the value in continued protests even if they are just small (and yet backed by the 75% poll). It keeps the issue on the agenda, and allows those deeper conversations to happen.
Trick now is, what direction do we want those conversations to go?
“All that caring language, and tokenism really adds up to bugger all for working people”
We are all working people.
“we are all working people”
What do mean by that statement?
thanks for this important post, weka.
I suspect some Labour members or supporters don’t want to challenge the government now labour is finally leading it.
However, I would point out that at the Aotea Square meeting on Sunday, Laila Harre spoke about being a Labour party member, while also publicly opposing the latest TPPA-11.
Moana Maniapoto talked about how she celebrated when Labour formed a government with NZF and Greens as support. She cracked open the wine. She said that this government is and will do many good things. but that we should still hold them to account when necessary.
Oh don’t worry about it so much, look heres something:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/latest/101946100/jacinda-ardern-and-clarke-gayford-buy-new-home-for-growing-family
Its like we’re all buying a new home so Isn’t that better than worrying about some silly trade deal 🙂
Stop stirring, PR – and keep up to date. AND irrelevant to this post.
This was done to death on Sunday, 4 March on Open Mike at 7. Here are some links for you.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-04-03-2018/#comment-1456727
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-04-03-2018/#comment-1456770
I’m not suggesting theres anything wrong in owning multiple houses I’m merely using that link as a round about way to suggest that this government is using the media to lull everybody to sleep and to not worry about hard decisions
I suppose I could have used this instead:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/101900513/fish-of-the-day-clarke-gayford-returns-to-catch-the-one-that-nearly-killed-him
Its like we’re all going fishing together so Isn’t that better than worrying about some silly trade deal 🙂
PR stop it. Wrong Post. OM is where these comments should have been. Come on over there; I have some pictures for you ….
I’m both intrigued and a little worried
I had hoped there would have been large numbers of people showing up to various demonstrations, not with illusions that the signing of the TPP could be averted, but more to let the government know it had been put on notice for signing it.
“Let’s not do this” when we’re talking about a done deal, struck me and strikes me as an odd piece of messaging – one that doesn’t exactly give people a worthwhile reason to turn out.
After all, when the horse has bolted, what’s the point in rushing to the stable doors?
You make a good point, Bill. Howver, I get that it is an echo of Labour’s election slogan “Let’s Do This”.
But also, it’s not over yet. First the relevant Bill has still to go through Parliament, and we are being encouraged to submit to the select committee – for some that could mean as little as a paragraph stating opposition to the agreement.
Also, if you look at the It’s Our Future site, there’s a drop down menu (“Other Agreements”) focused on upcoming agreements with some similar dodgy elements. Kelsey flagged this in her speech in Auckland at the weekend. there’s TISA, the RCEP, and an update of the NZ-China free trade agreement.
Also, it’s inevitable that there will be a drop off in momentum. A recent poll show people want an independent analysis of the TPPA – I guess in the light of Labour-NZF doing their about turn on it. Some people want more info. And it is hard to keep up momentum over time there will be lulls and resurgences.
And the US/Trump is looking like wanting back in, which will re-activate the suspended sections – probably with a vengeance.
So “Let’s Not Do This” is also future-focused.
3 – 0 down. 5 min left on the clock. “It’s not over yet.”
Except, as far as the TTP goes, it is over. The Bill will sail through Parliament on tail winds created by NZ Labour and the National Party.
True, that’s not necessary the case with other Agreements. Though National and NZ Labour will keep on supplying those tail winds – unless or until the anti is upped on NZ Labour and it’s made abundantly clear to them that by signing such deals they sign their own death warrant in terms of electability.
But do enough people care enough? Do enough people understand well enough to use the only Parliamentary leverage available and commit to voting Green? Will the Green Party go loud and proud with its opposition?
Parker has spouted tosh about fantastic negotiating that changed everything when in fact nothing of substance was altered. And he got away with it! How come?
It all sounds terribly dismal, I know, but…
On the bright side, the world is shifting, and the formerly secure liberal consensus of that muddled middle that gave us “Blair” and “Third Way” and Clinton’s “triangulations” is getting washed out.
NZ might be a shore somewhat distant to that wave. But it will arrive. And it doesn’t have to hit these shores before having an effect, given that it takes a number of partners to dance that “free trade” jig 😉
Make no mistake, it is exactly the same txt as the original agreement by the National party but has a few pages added onto that suspends some provisions mostly on health that they can just stop suspending if they rejoin.
The ISDS is still in there. There is NO protection of ISDS at all. Apparently there may be for a few countries in the side letters so there is still NO protection for this in the agreement.
The EU has now said they will NOT allow ISDS clauses in their agreements any longer. Pity the Labour government can show some guts and actually do the same instead of the weak and feeble approach, like National.
The US mandated that climate change was removed from every part of TPPA. When they left, NZ under the Labour and NZ First Government DID NOT put in climate change clauses.
This is AFTER Jacinda Ardern saying that climate change was her issue of the 21st century. (Obviously leaving Parker in charge is not working if that is true).
The PM will be judged by this agreement, so it is Jacinda’s name as the number one person who was a hypocrite, when it all goes wrong with climate change and NZ will be unable to act quickly due to this type of dinosaur agreement to protect corporation profits now and in the future, not the people who live in the country or this environment.
On average the ISDS clauses are used once a week around the world. As resources get fewer the corporations are keener to protect their profits and their lawyers thinking of new ways to profit from them.
It takes the decision making on these legal matters AWAY from NZ legislation. It is not even a real court that is used, it’s a business type tribunal.
India was unable to do solar panels to help it’s climate change obligations under the free trade agreements it was part of.
https://boingboing.net/2016/03/13/usa-uses-tpp-like-trade-court.html
The TPPA was a DOG and still is a DOG.
It is not too late to stop the signing at the Labour and NZ First government has not signed it yet.
Like the EU – they should know not to sign these agreements with ISDS clauses in them.
If the WTO restricts buy local, I wonder if the Indians have considered copying the Americans and applying tariffs on imported solar panels so they are not competitively priced?
NAFTA’s Chapter 11 Makes Canada Most-Sued Country Under Free Trade Tribunals
“Canada is the most-sued country under the North American Free Trade Agreement and a majority of the disputes involve investors challenging the country’s environmental laws, according to a new study.’
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/01/14/canada-sued-investor-state-dispute-ccpa_n_6471460.html
The upgrade to the FTA with China should not be much of a problem, it is just asking that we get access on the same (better) terms they later gave Oz.
We can offer support for (their) RCEP and continued support for One Belt if they agree. RCEP is just a total in package of existing FTA (with China and ASEAN) expanded to include others (such as India).
The South Americans will not push corporate rights and the EU is not the threat in these matters that the US is.
TPP is a done deal, maybe a push to have the government and opposition agree to block US admission to TPP unless it is on existing terms (the US does not get what they would have if they signed up now) would be useful.
RCEP is not uncontroversial. There is a very good opportunity to improve it and shape it into a better deal with our participation, but it would require Labour and New Zealand First living up to their rhetoric on trade, and actually trying to export some of our values around labour rights and environmentalism overseas.
There are still problems with the other agreements in the pipeline, although they tend to not be as wide-ranging as the TPPA.
It’s Our Future on the RCEP –
On TISA (Trade in Services Agreement):
On the NZ-China-FTA update, nothing on the webpage yet. but under the RCEP page it says:
If Labour can be convinced to hold the line against ISDS in any future FTA, where New Zealand take China’s side on this vs Japan/Oz in RCEP talks in return for their upgrading our access to their market to what they gave Oz in their FTA, there is a win win for us.
We have to be partner fluid/straddle the two sides to realise what is best for us.
And as for the USA coming into TPP – why not have Labour oppose this unless there is a side deal where we and the US have a mutual opt out of ISDS?
Labour would accept whatever if the US wanted back in.
Same as National.
Mainly because as Clark said, it would be extremely dumb not to.
The problem with this umbrella corporation lead type global trading approach, which this latest step is a further ratcheting up of, is that it an approach based on all the wonders of socialism efficiency and dynamism, without the govt aspect.
The Chinese, for all the weightage of the structural cul-de sacs that they have ( & for the significance of the challenge that brings, it is of note that the situation there has changed to indefinite terms of power), at least have a nationalistic govt with power to provide some overview to things in their population’s interest.
So another relative win for China in the wings with the global trading positions, which it can not be blamed for taking the opportunities of when served up to them voluntarily, by anchorless power structures.
which it [China] can not be blamed for taking the opportunities of when served up to them voluntarily, by anchorless power structures.
Would you class the signing by the National Government in May 2017 during the visit by Xi Jinping of an MOU with China on mutual BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) development as being such an opportunity?
I don’t recall any great concern, protests etc on this at the time.
Here is a recent update just a few days ago, which claims amongst other things that NZ’s signing this MOU was out of step with Australia (who refused to sign such an MOU) and India, Japan and the US.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/101721886/an-alternative-to-chinas-belt-road-initiative
This is why I had to vote Green in 2017.
If you followed the election campaign closely and the promises made by Jacinda and Labour, then there was no reason not to vote for Labour. They made all the right principled noises and sounded like they wanted to make positive change.
However there was always that suspicion that they are still the tired old mob from 1984.
And within 6 months they do this. Sign up to a treaty the marched on the streets against. Even worse than that they lied by claiming the minor adjustments were something they negotiated whereas now it seems the Tories had already negotiated everything.
This broken promise has left me deflated about this government.
I am going to increase my donations to the Green Party as they need to become much more influential heading into 2020.
Occidental v. Ecuador
In October 2012, an ICSID tribunal awarded a judgment of $1.8 billion for Occidental Petroleum against the government of Ecuador.[42] Additionally, Ecuador had to pay $589 million in backdated compound interest and half of the costs of the tribunal, making its total penalty around $2.4 billion.[42] The South American country annulled a contract with the oil firm on the grounds that it violated a clause that the company would not sell its rights to another firm without permission. The tribunal agreed the violation took place but judged that the annulment was not fair and equitable treatment to the company.[42]
Putting people’s fates into a bunch of lawyers is never a good idea. Law mostly benefits the rich.
Have a look at the Little vs Hagaman case. Even though Little was found not guilty, the Haganman went back for another trial.
In this way, it is not about a person (or country) being right or wrong when you are encouraging litigation, it is about power imbalances and using the law to imbalance, disrupt and scare freedom of speech, while delegating decision making to others to decide a person or (countries) fate.
It’s about to get a lot worse in NZ! Already the councils are out of control, imagine what they will do after this agreement is signed, more and more environmental degradation and decisions to empower rich and take and marginalise the poor.
Now they have an agreement for multinational chemical and oil companies among other’s, to join in the subjugation!
“Have a look at the Little vs Hagaman case. Even though Little was found not guilty, the Haganman went back for another trial.”
Little was damn lucky, he should have been found guilty, politicians have parliamentary privilege for this very reason
You are dead right and given the tax $$ of this TPP mess you can expect more tax gouging of the average Kiwi from the political parasites to pay for it all in years to come.
Socialism for the rich, capitalism for everyone else.
Perhaps we were all being naive after 30+ years of politicians ignoring the wishes of voters to think that the situation would suddenly, magically, be transformed after the recent election.
All this really proves is voting is participation in your own oppression and those of others. Suffice to say I’m done with these creeps for good unless by some miracle a group with integrity turns up but after all this time I wont hold my breath.
Somehow reminds me of the previous Labour / Douglas sell out. Fooled again.