US-Australia free trade agreement reflects power imbalance

"The lousy deal for Australia is a reminder that our real interests lie with resumed multi-lateral negotiations," Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.

He was commenting on the US Australia free trade agreement announced today.

"WTO rules and processes need a lot of improvement but they still hold the prospect for a much fairer outcome than one-sided bilaterals," Ross Wilson said.

"New Zealand should pursue multi-lateral negotiations for the same reason that workers pursue collective bargaining," he said.

"Only by working collectively with other G20 countries can we hope to get a fair trade deal with countries like the United States."

"Despite the huge sacrifices the Australian Government has made, the much vaunted FTA with the US reflects the gross inequality of bargaining power."

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New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

Te Kauae Kaimahi

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.

CONTACT NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS

• Website - union.org.nz/
• Phone - +64 4 385 1334
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• Physical Address - Level 7, West Block, Education House, 178 Willis St, Wellington.

• Media Contact - huiaw@nzctu.org.nz
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• Postal Address - PO Box 6645, Marion Square, Wellington 6141.

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