August 2016

Committee Urged To Scrap TPPA

Press Release – Democrats for Social Credit The Government should scrap the TPPA legislation and withdraw from the agreement, Democrats for Social Credit Deputy Leader and Finance Spokesperson, Chris Leitch told the select committee hearing submissions on the TPPA Amendment bill.

RCEP Protest in India

Evergreening clause dropped after stiff opposition from India

The Daily Excelsior reports that provisions relating to the evergreening of patents have been dropped from RCEP negotiations after stiff opposition from India. ‘Evergreening’ involves making extremely minor changes to a patented product as a product expires, triggering a new period of patent protection: “It may be noted that some RCEP countries had tried to introduce a …

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Investor-state dispute settlement

Asia Pacific civil society rejects investor rights to sue governments in RCEP negotiations

MEDIA RELEASE It’s Our Future Asia Pacific civil society rejects investor rights to sue governments in RCEP negotiations As Trade Ministers, including New Zealand’s Todd McClay, meet in Laos today (5th August), an unprecedented alliance of 95 civil society groups are calling for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to exclude extreme forms of investor …

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New animated short on El Salvador v Oceanagold ISDS claim

A new animated short film telling the story of the El Salvador v Oceanagold ISDS claim has just premiered at the New Zealand International Film Festival. The film, called ‘Water for Gold‘, was directed by Rose Archer and produced by Sandani Wijetunge, who together have been working on the upcoming Beautiful Democracy film, which covers the NZ …

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India plays hardball on goods tariffs

Ahead of the upcoming RCEP negotiation round in Laos this week, the Indian Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has signified her country’s intention to not reduce tariffs on goods to zero (i.e. tariff reduction, not tariff elimination). An unnamed government official is quoted in The Hindu BusinessLine saying that the level of tariff reduction India will offer in …

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Civil society groups say No to investors suing States in RCEP

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is being negotiated in secret by 16 countries. A leaked copy of its investment chapter includes proposals to allow foreign investors to sue governments. 95 national and regional civil society organisations which cover all RCEP countriesstrongly urge RCEP countries to reject ISDS in the agreement.