Fletcher Tabuteau MP

Spokesperson for Trade and Commerce
13 JANUARY 2016

Obama Gets Lukewarm TPP Response But NZ to Sign Regardless

New Zealand First says the muted reaction to President Obama’s promotion of the TPPA in his final State of the Union raises big questions over what New Zealand is signing up to.

“Muted, is the most accurate way to describe how American lawmakers reacted to President Obama’s promotion of the TPP,” says New Zealand First Trade Spokesperson, Fletcher Tabuteau.

“Even President Obama’s TPPA entreaty to his Democratic Party only saw a handful of U.S. lawmakers get to their feet while most remained firmly seated.

“Without the United States there is no TPPA and the legislative clock is ticking.

“Why on earth is our government pretending to hold a signing ceremony here next month, when we know already that American lawmakers want substantive changes to the TPP text - a text that all parties agree cannot be changed without it all unravelling around them.

“Does this mean that the National-led government is fully prepared to sign a document that could change, in yet another round of signing blank cheques?” Mr Tabuteau asked.

ENDS

© Scoop Media