Maryan STREET

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Overseas Development Assistance Spokesperson

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

MEDIA STATEMENT

Street Welcomes Petition for Greater Openness in Trade Talks

A petition asking for a Foreign Affairs Select Committee hearing into the potential implications for New Zealand of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks was welcomed today by the Opposition Spokesperson on Trade, Maryan Street.

“The petition, which is signed by significant groups in civil society such as the Council of Trade Unions, Oxfam and the Public Health Association, amongst others, asks that the relevant Select Committee convenes a hearing into the TPP negotiations, and seeks greater openness and transparency around the negotiating process and content,” she said.

“Labour supports greater transparency around trade talks, and would in government ensure that the views of representative groups with real interests in the impact of such talks had their voices heard.

“Since the global financial crisis which saw taxpayers paying out trillions of dollars for corporate greed and failure, we can no longer do things the way we have always done them,” she said.

“New Zealanders want to know that trade deals are in our interests, whether they are employers, unions, or non-government organisations with a concern for democracy. We must be able to demonstrate that deals we do will benefit New Zealanders and not expose them to greater risk,” she said.

“Only greater transparency will achieve that.”

ENDS

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