A guest post by left-wing activist and Green Party member Elliot Crossan. 4 February 2016 was the day I learnt what the power of ordinary people felt like. I marched with 30,000 others in the streets of Auckland against the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, and I could feel the raw anger of a …
It’s Time For the Greens To Play Hardball on TPPA Read More »
The basic premise of opposition to the TPPA and its descendant agreements is that the risks outweighed the benefits. With the CPTPP Agreement apparently now concluded but no available text, we’re left in a familiar limbo. Will the benefits of this new agreement be enough to offset the risks? One of the main reasons TPPA …
What are the economic benefits for NZ of the CPTPP? Read More »
We are trade union and civil society representatives from seven Asian countries who came together to discuss the impacts on labour rights and quality public services of the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) between 16 Asian nations. RCEP proposes to open markets and deregulate substantial sectors of the economies involved, including trade in goods …
Workers call on Governments to Defend the Public Interest and Reject RCEP Read More »
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 …
Evergreening clause dropped after stiff opposition from India Read More »
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 …
New animated short on El Salvador v Oceanagold ISDS claim Read More »
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 …
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.
Press Release – University of Auckland Medecins Sans Frontieres say: RCEP trade agreement threatens access to affordable medicines for half the worlds population
Press Release – Professor Jane Kelsey The Australian Labor Party has promised not to give foreign investors the right to sue the Australian government in any future free trade and investment agreements. That policy would include the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) …
Press Release – It’s Our Future Dr. Jomo Kwame Sundaram will visit New Zealand this week. He will be available for interviews in Auckland on Wednesday 15 June and Friday 17 June, and in Wellington on Thursday 16 June.
Press Release – Office of the Clerk 1. RON MARK (Deputy LeaderNZ First) to the Minister of Finance : Does he stand by his statement on the defence budget made in the House on Thursday, 2 June; if so, how?
Press Release – Green Party The New Zealand Government should take controversial and outdated Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions off the table in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade negotiations in Auckland this week, the Green Party …
