Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader

Member of Parliament for Northland
10 NOVEMBER 2016

NZ Govt Thumbs Nose at Trump as It Pushes TPPA through

Despite US president-elect Donald Trump forewarning he would not go ahead with the TPPA, the New Zealand government is pressing ahead to pass New Zealand’s related legislation, says New Zealand First.

“The government is thumbing its nose at Mr Trump and wasting New Zealand taxpayers’ money. Despite the TPPA being kaput the government, United Future and ACT refused to support a motion from New Zealand First to discharge the bill,” says New Zealand First Leader and MP for Northland Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“This is despite the fact the Prime Minister admitted before the election that the TPPA’s chances of going through were ‘close to zero’. Today he agreed it was in a coma and said we are ‘not going to have it in the short term’.

“In the US the Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said the TPPA had no chance of going through under President Obama before Mr Trump takes office in January.

“This agreement is out of time, yet National persists with the stupidity of debating it for a second and third reading this week.

“Their hypocrisy knows no bounds. On one hand they are congratulating Mr Trump on his victory, but on the other ignoring the millions who voted for him, the very people who have been impoverished by globalisation that the TPPA represents.

“The TPPA is mostly about corporate greed and little about trade. It was never acceptable in its present form.

“Over $5 million has been spent on the TPPA to achieve absolutely nothing.”

ENDS

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