On RNZ this morning:
TPP deal is precarious – NZ envoy
New Zealand’s special agricultural trade envoy at the TPP talks in Hawaii has cast doubt on whether the trade deal is going to be acceptable to New Zealand.
Mike Petersen said more concessions on dairy products were needed before New Zealand could sign the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement.
…
“The deal’s simply not at the stage where the industry could support it or even New Zealand could really accept this deal. “This is pretty precarious here at the moment. “Everyone knows that dairy’s a major sticking point and we’re needing much greater progress in that area if we’re going to put this deal to bed by the end of the week.”Nations with large and protected industries were “pushing back”.
Pushing back? Really? Is it easier for them to push back when we have already given away all our cards? Combine this reality check with Vernon Small’s observation:
Sure as sunrise, New Zealand will sign up to the TPP if a deal is on offer
OPINION: Based on previous observations the sun will more than likely come up tomorrow and New Zealand will sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal if, as appears likely, it is finalised this week.
Actually it will sign it whatever week it is finalised. The Government has far too much skin in the game to walk away.
When ministers say they would reject the TPP if it is not in New Zealand’s best interests, unless there is a good deal on dairy, unless, unless, unless … there is only really one response. Yeah, right.
We’re going to sign a rubbish deal to protect a few Nat egos.
Update: Read what a real journalist has to say on the current state of negotiations – thank you Gordon Campbell.
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