Fletcher Tabuteau MP
Spokesperson for Trade
12 AUGUST 2015
Kiwis Have Spoken – TPPA Has Got to Go
The TPPA in its current form has got to go, that’s the message New Zealanders delivered to Parliament today and it’s
high time the government listened, says New Zealand First.
“New Zealand First has stood against the secrecy and parts of the TPPA from the beginning,” says Spokesperson for Trade
Fletcher Tabuteau.
“We are the only party that drafted and lodged a Bill in Parliament to try and deal with one of the worst aspects of the
TPPA – the clause that allows foreign corporations to sue the government if they believe our laws harm their profits.
Our Fighting Foreign Corporate Bill failed to succeed because of two MPs who support National, the ACT party’s David
Seymour and United Future’s Peter Dunne.
“The TPPA in its present form isn’t a good deal for New Zealand. Instead it is a great deal for the government’s foreign
corporate mates.
“National has sold the TPPA to New Zealanders as a trade deal, but only 20 per cent of the document addresses trade. No
one fully knows what the government is signing this country up too.
“New Zealand First has called for openness and transparency and the government has steadfastly refused to debate the
TPPA, instead hiding behind a cloak of secrecy.
“Kiwis have spoken. The National government and their support parties must stop in their pursuit of this trade deal
now,” says Mr Tabuteau.
“We’re all for fair trade deals, but this is not one of them.”
ENDS