GATT WATCHDOG, PO BOX 1905 CHRISTCHURCH
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
23 July 2000
Fair Trade Group Seeks Singapore Free Trade Agreement Draft From Singapore Government, Condemns NZ Government Secrecy
GATT Watchdog has written to Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry and its High Commissioner in Wellington
requesting a copy of the draft text of the free trade agreement being negotiated between New Zealand and Singapore. This
follows earlier refusals by the New Zealand Government to release it or Cabinet papers setting out the rationale for the
agreement and its scope.
"The secrecy which still surrounds New Zealand’s participation in international negotiations on trade and investment
liberalisation is utterly unacceptable. It gives the lie to Labour-led government claims about its commitment to open
government and democracy. It clearly does not want genuine open debate about free trade and investment any more than
previous governments," said GATT Watchdog spokesman, Aziz Choudry.
"With APEC in a state of virtual paralysis, and the WTO so far failing to kick off a new round of multilateral trade
negotiations, the "Closer Economic Partnership" with Singapore is a step towards a possible new trade bloc including
South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Without seeing the actual text it is very difficult for people to assess the
real implications of this agreement for New Zealand. The only material which the Government has deigned to release is so
general and one-sided it is almost meaningless.
"We understand that Jim Sutton will report on the negotiations – which appear to have hit problems – to Cabinet in the
next week or two. Meanwhile we hope the Singapore government does the right thing and releases the text to us.
"The Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade show no sign of departing from the secretive, anti-democratic
tradition of New Zealand’s participation in trade and investment liberalisation negotiations. This is not the first time
we have sought such information from overseas because New Zealand trade officials and ministers operate in such secrecy.
"In 1992 the Dunkel draft of the GATT Agreement was obtained from overseas because New Zealand trade officials would not
release it for scrutiny. In 1996 we were only able to raise questions about New Zealand’s draft APEC Individual Action
Plan when a copy was leaked from Asia. In 1997, the posting of draft texts of the controversial Multilateral Agreement
on Investment (MAI) on the Internet by Canadian campaigners enabled a number of New Zealand organisations and the wider
public – including the Alliance – to raise concerns about the MAI many of which New Zealand officials finally had to
concede might be justified.
"Even the National Government finally released the draft text of the MAI while negotiations were still continuing, as
well as Cabinet briefing papers and decisions and other official documents including communications between MFAT and
other ministries. The current government is unwilling to go even that far with this agreement. What is it trying to
hide?"
(Letter attached)
Director, Trade Division
Ministry of Trade and Industry
100 High Street 309-01,
The Treasury
SINGAPORE 179434
Fax: 65 3348135
High Commissioner
Singapore High Commission
17 Kabul St
Khandallah
WELLINGTON
Fax: 04 479 2315
21 July 2000
Dear Sir
GATT Watchdog is a Christchurch, New Zealand-based coalition of community groups and non-government organisations
committed to education and action on alternatives to the global market economy.
Since 1990 we have been at the forefront of education and analysis of New Zealand participation in trade and investment
liberalisation which has greatly contributed to national debate about these issues.
We are writing to request a copy of the text of the draft Closer Economic Partnership agreement currently being
negotiated between the New Zealand and Singapore governments.
There is keen public interest in this agreement in New Zealand. We sincerely hope that you are able to help with our
request.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Aziz Choudry GATT Watchdog