Editorial: Passage to India
OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.
It is understood that top officials from 12 Pacific nations negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade pact are planning to convene in Hawaii at the end of this month for a final push to get agreement – an indication that we may be nearing a deal.
The US Congress last month expanded negotiating authority for President Barack Obama, setting up a potentially deal clinching meeting of trade officials.
It’s estimated the TPP would add about 2% a year to the New Zealand economy. Services, tourism and IT would make up about 40% of this increase, agriculture 25%, the remainder coming from investment. The TPP region represents 792 million consumers and 40% of world trade. In 2012, trade among TPP partners was at least $2 trillion.
According to a professor of international finance at Brandeis University, Peter Petri, recently in New Zealand, a successful TPP agreement appears more likely now the US has agreed to fast-track negotiations.
For NZ, one of the biggest sticking points is access for its dairy products: the US, Canada and Japan have highly protected dairy industries.
The US is believed to be pushing Japan to open its long-protected market for beef, pork, dairy and rice products. Japan, in turn, is seeking the end of US tariffs on cars and trucks.
Regarding the controversy over the TPP, Petri believes the issue has not been handled well politically. “They should have kept negotiations within the room but at least described the broad lines of negotiations more publicly.”
However, conspiracy claims – led by anti-TPP critics such as Jane Kelsey and politicians who know better – about the TPP being a ‘big business’ takeover of our national sovereignty, and other scare stories, are laughable.
It is deplorable that the anti-TPP people like Kelsey et al get to make such uncontested claims and have unfettered media coverage. Yet the work and word of honest and dedicated people such as special agriculture trade envoy Mike Petersen and diplomatic, trade and government expert Stephen Jacobi, who believe the TPP will have huge benefits for NZ, are ignored.
Petersen and Jacobi – or the NZ Government for that matter – are hardly going to sell our country or the agriculture sector down the river to benefit the Gnomes of Zurich or any other interest group.
Meanwhile, Gary Hufbauer, a senior fellow at the Institute of International Economics, believes the planned high-level negotiating session suggests officials from most or all the countries believe an agreement is within reach now that Congress has approved the negotiating authority Obama sought.
Let’s hope so. New Zealand – our agriculture sector especially – stand to benefit greatly.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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