13 November 2011
Key must come clean about TPP before election
John Key needs to be absolutely clear with the New Zealand public before the election about what is being traded off in
the interest of signing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.
The deadline for the end of negotiations by the end of next year was announced by President Obama at the APEC meeting in
Honolulu this morning New Zealand time.
“John Key needs to release the position papers so that in the lead up to the election New Zealanders know what he is
giving away in the name of a trade deal,” Dr Norman said.
“It is ridiculous the Governments we are negotiating with have been given these documents, but the people of New Zealand
are being kept in the dark.
“It is worrying that Key is promising the sale of our state assets while at the same time giving big rights to foreign
companies operating here in New Zealand.
Dr Norman said the US proposals would open up Government decision making to litigation from United States attorneys in
World Bank Courts behind closed doors.
"Signing an agreement in secret that would weaken New Zealand’s sovereignty is not in our long term interests," said Dr
Norman.
"This is no ordinary trade deal. It is less about getting market access for our products and more about giving new
rights to foreign companies that will undermine good Kiwi initiatives like Pharmac.
“We will be seeking to ensure the transparency of these negotiations,” Dr Norman said.
ENDS