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NZ Chief Trade Negotiator Mark Sinclair (facing away from the camera) answers questions from the Japanese media

• Scoop Audio (18 Minutes): TPP Negotiations: Summary – Thursday, Dec 9, 2010

Following the FTA briefing, New Zealand’s Chief Negotiator, Mark Sinclair returned to summarise the TPP work in progress.

He announced working groups met today focussing on, government procurement, goods, competition policy, investment, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, rules of origin, cross-border services, environment and e-commerce privacy. Numerous other groups, at different stages, have reported back.

Mr Sinclair said there has been good engagement in all areas.

The final session of the horizontal working programme focussed on development. The feedback is reported to be positive with regards to understanding and developing this policy area.

Undisclosed stakeholders also conducted a lunchtime presentation on new issues in the environment.

• Scoop Audio (29 Minutes): The FTA Process 101: An Anonymous Briefing – Thursday, Dec 9, 2010

A trade official who wishes to remain anonymous briefed journalists on the basics of the free trade agreement (FTA) process being used at the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks at Sky City, Auckland. It’s basically a two-stage process. The first stage is to develop the legal text for each of the categories/areas of concern the nine countries are discussing. According to the press briefings, the TPP is only in the tentative stages, and a full text could be a year away. Once these legal texts are agreed upon the second ‘commitment’ stage can begin.

We’ve altered the official’s voice and made slight edits, removing specific examples to ensure anonymity yet hopefully provided listeners with an insight into trade negotiations.