Press Release – New Zealand Government
Trade Minister Tim Groser today welcomed the release of the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Hon Tim Groser
Minister of Trade
5 November 2015 Media Statement
New Zealand releases TPP text
Trade Minister Tim Groser today welcomed the release of the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
On behalf of the twelve members of the TPP and in its capacity as Depositary of the Agreement, New Zealand released the text of TPP.
“New Zealand supported the release of the text as soon as the technical work to finalise the Agreement was completed.
“I am pleased that this has happened and that the public will be able to thoroughly review the full text of the TPP well before it will be signed by governments.
“This is a complex agreement, with 30 Chapters and associated annexes. The large number of documents released today amount to over 6,000 pages of text and market access schedules. Understanding the legal obligations of the TPP will require careful analysis of all documents, given the inter-relationship between many provisions in the Agreement.
Legal verification of the text will continue in the coming weeks. The Agreement will also be translated into French and Spanish language versions. Both steps, as well as the Government’s consideration of the final outcome from negotiations, will need to be completed before signature takes place.
“Following signature, TPP, like any free trade agreement, will need to go through New Zealand’s Parliamentary processes,” said Mr Groser.
The Government has already released a number of fact sheets outlining the content of the TPP. Also released today is additional information on the estimated economic benefits of TPP on the New Zealand economy, and details on how potential costs associated with copyright and administrative provisions relating to PHARMAC have been arrived at.
In the coming days, the Government will also release a legal summary of the Agreement.
These documents, together with the full text, will be available atwww.tpp.mfat.govt.nz/text
The joint statement can be found at: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/tpp-members-release-text-agreement
ENDS
Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz
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