3 December 2012 MEDIA RELEASE
Kiwi businesses out in support of TPP negotiations
More than 50 business leaders from some of New Zealand’s largest and most successful companies and business
organisations have expressed their support for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations currently underway
between eleven APEC economies.
In an open letter to Prime Minister John Key, the business leaders underlined the importance of international trade and
investment for New Zealand. “The signatories to the open letter represent a cross section across all major export
sectors in New Zealand, including agriculture, forestry, fishing, horticulture, wine, manufacturing, technology and
Maori business. Together they either directly employ, or their members employ, an enormous number of Kiwis,” said
Chairman of the New Zealand International Business Forum, Sir Graeme Harrison.
“These business leaders welcome the TPP round taking place in Auckland this week and commend negotiators from the TPP
economies for their efforts to conclude a future agreement which should bring benefits for all member economies”.
“The group is aware the negotiation poses challenges for New Zealand policy settings in a number of areas and that the
negotiation is complex. We have confidence that Trade Minister Tim Groser and his officials will seek solutions that
meet New Zealand’s national interests.”
“We see great advantages for New Zealand arising from a future agreement that is high quality, comprehensive and
ambitious, one that eliminates trade barriers, lowers the cost of doing business and makes improvements to the way
regional supply chains can link producers and consumers in the region.” The open letter coincides with the launch of a
new business-led initiative, Trade Works, a website (www.tradeworks.org.nz) to help Kiwis better understand the benefits
of trade and investment for New Zealand, and understand the potential benefits of TPP. Funding for the website has been
provided by the NZ US Council and the website has been built with the support of thirteen business organisations
representing the main export sectors.
“The Council and its partners see value from an effort to create a TPP which meets business and wider needs and
reflects the way business is being done today and will be done in the future. This will assist economic growth and job
creation in New Zealand. Our new website signals that we are also ready to participate with other members of civil
society in a dialogue about how TPP can contribute to what it is best for New Zealand,” said Chairman of the NZ US
Council, Rt Hon James Bolger.
ENDS
3 December 2012 Rt Hon John Key Prime Minister Parliament Buildings WELLINGTON
Dear Prime Minister
We, the leaders of major New Zealand companies and leading business organisations, write to underline the importance of
international trade and investment for New Zealand and to express our support for the Trans Pacifi c Partnership (TPP)
negotiations now underway amongst eleven APEC economies. Trade is New Zealand’s life blood. Trade rules uphold fairness
in the global economy and enhance the ability of New Zealand companies to do business internationally. For this reason
we welcome negotiators from the TPP economies who are meeting in Auckland this week and we commend them for their
efforts to conclude a future agreement which should bring benefi ts for all member economies.
We are conscious that TPP is a work in progress and that judgement about the fi nal outcome needs to be withheld until
negotiators have fi nished their work. Our aim in writing is to endorse the effort now underway and to outline our
conviction that this effort should continue in the interests of building a more prosperous and sustainable Asia Pacifi c
region and of ensuring that business can play its full part in the region’s continuing recovery and future economic
growth.
We are aware that the negotiation poses challenges for New Zealand policy settings in a number of areas. The same is
true for other participating economies. We know the negotiation is complex. We have confi dence that Trade Minister
Groser and his offi cials will seek solutions which meet New Zealand’s national interests. We note that the treaty
ratifi cation process requires there to be consultation on the negotiated outcome before its adoption by Parliament.
We see great advantages for New Zealand arising from a future agreement that is high quality, comprehensive and
ambitious, one that eliminates trade barriers, lowers the cost of doing business and makes improvements to the way
regional supply chains can link producers and consumers in the region. In particular we see value from an effort to
create an agreement which meets business and wider needs and refl ects the way business is being done today and will be
done in the future. This will assist economic growth and job creation in New Zealand.
We stand ready to assist negotiators in this effort and to participate with other members of civil society in a dialogue
about how TPP can contribute to what is best for our country, its people and the people of the wider region to which we
belong.
Rt Hon James Bolger, ONZ Graeme Harrison, KNZM Chairman, NZ US Council Chairman, NZ International Business Forum OPEN
LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE TPP negotiations Mark Adamson Chief Executive Fletcher Building Limited Malcolm Bailey
Chairman, Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand Michael Barnett Chief Executive Auckland Regional Chamber of
Commerce and Industry Eric Barratt Chair, Seafood New Zealand Managing Director, Sandford Limited Catherine Beard
Executive Director Manufacturing New Zealand and Export New Zealand Frances Benge Head of Primary Care & Country Lead/Managing Director Pfi zer New Zealand Ltd Wayne Boyd Member ABAC New Zealand Kim Campbell Chief Executive
Employers and Manufacturers Northern Scott Champion Chief Executive Beef + Lamb New Zealand Barbara Chapman Chief
Executive ASB Bank Limited Peter Clark Chief Executive PF Olsen Limited Mark Clarkson Managing Director ANZCO Foods
Keith Cooper Chief Executive Silver Fern Farms Erica Crawford President, Canada New Zealand Business Association
Managing Director, Loveblock Vintners Grant Cuff Chief Executive Alliance Group Ltd Peter Davie President Canterbury
Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Michael Daniell Chief Executive Offi cer Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited Doug Ducker Chairman Wood Council of New Zealand Tony Egan Managing Director
Greenlea Premier Meats W J Falconer Chairman Meat Industry Association of New Zealand Sir William Gallagher
Chairman/Chief Executive Gallagher Group Philip Gregan Chief Executive NZ Winegrowers Geoff Hipkins Chief Executive Offi
cer Turners & Growers Ltd Murray Jack Chairman Deloitte Stephen Jacobi Executive Director NZ US Council and NZ International Business
Forum Lain Jager Chief Executive Zespri International Limited Te Horipo Karaitiana Chief Executive Federation of Maori
Authorities Brian Lynch Chairman NZ Horticulture Export Authority Ian McCrae Chief Executive Orion Health Sir Peter
Maire Chairman Fusion Transactive Tony Nowell Chairman Wellington Drive Technologies ABAC Regional Economic Integration
Working Group Matt O’Regan Chairman Westland Milk Products Phil O’Reilly Chief Executive BusinessNZ Frank Owen Chief
Executive Offi cer Tait Communications Mike Petersen Chairman Beef + Lamb New Zealand Rod Quin Chief Executive Westland
Milk Products Maxine Simmons Member ABAC New Zealand Paul Smith Director New Zealand Merck Sharp & Dohme (New Zealand) Limited Theo Spierings Chief Executive Fonterra Co-operative Group Brian Stanley Chairman Wood
Processors Association of New Zealand Joe Stanton CEO/President Constellation Brands New Zealand Limited Sir Ken Stevens
Chairman Export New Zealand and Glidepath Group Graham Stuart Chief Executive Sealord Products Ltd Stephen Titter
President American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand Inc Peter Townsend Chief Executive Canterbury Employers’ Chamber
of Commerce Sir Henry van der Heyden Chairman Fonterra Co-operative Group Sir James Wallace Chairman Wallace Corporation
Harvey Weake Chief Executive Methanex NZ Ltd $ O’R ill J St t FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: www. tradeworks. org. nz
ends