Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Don’t leave a toxic legacy – give up on the TPPA

Don’t leave a toxic legacy – give up on the TPPA


Joe Biden’s visit to New Zealand comes amongst desperate moves to try to rescue the deeply unpopular Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). Citizens opposed to the TPPA will be at Auckland Airport today to call for an end to the TPPA.

The TPPA was on the agenda for talks in Australia and is expected to be discussed in Auckland on Thursday. The TPPA is in deep trouble in the US, with both Presidential nominees recently affirming their rejection of the agreement.

There is overwhelming evidence that the TPPA will produce little if any economic benefit, cause social and environmental damage, and result in the loss of governments’ right to regulate. Yet, the current President is still talking about the TPPA as a key part of his legacy from 8 years in office.

The campaign against the TPPA in New Zealand, It’s Our Future, is calling for talks to be abandoned. Spokesperson Barry Coates said:

“The US President and Vice President should not be leaving a toxic legacy from their time in office.”

“People are waking up to the dangers of giving over powers to foreign corporations. The TPPA’s investor-state dispute settlement mechanism would allow foreign investors to challenge the decisions of our Parliament and our judicial system.”

“The recent TransCanada US$15 billion case against the US government’s rejection of the KeystoneXL pipeline shows how action on climate change will be further undermined by the TPPA.”

There is strong and growing opposition to the TPPA and similar pro-corporate treaties around the world, including huge opposition to the parallel Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations between the US and EU. A majority of the New Zealand public oppose the TPPA, according to opinion polls.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

There is no chance to pass the TPPA in the US using the usual democratic processes, so the US administration is trying to push the TPPA through during the ‘lame duck period’ between the Presidential election on 8 November and the time the President takes office on 20 January 2017. As with the previous push for Fast Track Authority, the wheels will be oiled by lavish corporate contributions.

Barry Coates commented: “Doing an end run around democratic process to pass the TPPA is not a legacy that the Obama/Biden administration should be proud of. It’s time that governments – including the US and New Zealand – started listening to their people, not just the big corporations.”

It’s Our Future is calling for a halt to the ratification process in New Zealand, and if the TPPA is to continue, there should be a binding referendum on New Zealand’s participation.

It’s Our Future spokesperson Barry Coates concluded: “The world has moved on. The TPPA is a throwback to the era of extreme liberalisation, trickle-down, growth-at-all-costs policies. It has benefited big corporations and the wealthy few, and caused massive inequality, unstable economies, climate chaos and a hollowing out of democracy. It’s time to change direction.”

ENDS


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.