Media statement Friday, December 7th, 2012

TPP of seminal importance for jobs. Separate work stream for IP called for

The Trans Pacific Partnership is of seminal importance for developing job opportunities in New Zealand, says Kim Campbell, chief executive of the Employers & Manufacturers Association.

But alongside our ongoing struggle to win access for our agricultural products we need a completely separate work stream dealing with intellectual property, Mr Campbell said.

"It is evident that in terms of the TPP, intellectual property is a complicated rat's nest full of ambiguity and vested interests," he said.

"Well-resourced groups have the capacity to subvert the TPP process if we are not most careful to ensure it is robust and enduring.

"Hence the need for caution and precision over the agreement's terms and conditions.

"New Zealand business will be paying close attention to the details of this part of the agreement because tomorrow's globally integrated business world will be driven by intellectual property.

"And we are 100 per cent committed to New Zealand negotiating a high quality TPP agreement for the job opportunities and economic growth prospects it can undoubtedly deliver."

ends

© Scoop Media

World Refugee Day:
Are We Doing Our Bit?

On World Refugee Day, Thursday June 20th, Doing Our Bit will officially launch a campaign to double New Zealand’s UNHCR Refugee Resettlement Quota...

New Zealand’s low refugee intake is not a new issue. In February a NZ Herald editorial commented that our intake was ‘paltry’, remarking that ‘surely we could do more’. In April, Amnesty International described the quota as ‘tiny'.

“Despite being a small country in the middle of the South Pacific, New Zealand prides itself on being hospitable. We are friendly to overseas visitors and we see ourselves as punching above our weight in international affairs,” said Murdoch Stephens, coordinator of Doing Our Bit.

“However, in terms of accepting refugees New Zealand is clearly not doing our share.” More>>