Audio + Images : Trans Pacific Partnership In Auck. - Day Two
Scoop Audio + Photos: Trans Pacific Partnership Negotiations In Auckland - Day Two - Tuesday, 7 December 2010
By Alastair Thompson
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NZ Chief Negotiator Mark Sinclair briefs media in the Sky City Convention Center
- Scoop Audio (23 Minutes): Audio on Demand of NZ Chief Trans Pacific Partnership negotiator Mark Sinclair at Tuesday's briefing for media covering the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiating round being held at Sky City Convention Center in Auckland this week. Briefings are to be held each day at 2pm.
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Mr Sinclair tabled another daily report which is very light on substance and remained unwilling to discuss any details about the negotiations. Asked about rumours that there has been progress on the agriculture text Mr Sinclair said he expected market access discussions to take place at the end of the negotiations - i.e. after the main text has concluded.
Mr Sinclair talked about the intention to take horizontal issues as resolved among APEC countries and give them a rules framework. When asked by Scoop whether this meant states-investor enforcement was being discussed he declined to answer, but then suggested we read the China NZ Free Trade Agremeent which apparently includes such provisions. He again repeated his suggestion that if we wanted any actual information we should have attended the briefings in Wellington last week.
The media contingent today was made up of just five kiwi journalists - two from Scoop, plus Radio New Zealand, Fairfax and a freelancer. In addition there are now 6 Japanese ournalists covering the negotiations with more arriving shortly. Japan is considering joining the TPP negotiating group, and tomorrow there will be a special briefing on Japan's relationship with the TPP.
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ENDS