Press Release – New Zealand First Party
The government has no intention of allowing the controversial TPPA treaty to be debated in Parliament before it is signed, says New Zealand First Spokesperson for Trade Fletcher Tabuteau.TPPA Likely to Sail through without Scrutiny
The government has no intention of allowing the controversial TPPA treaty to be debated in Parliament before it is signed, says New Zealand First Spokesperson for Trade Fletcher Tabuteau.
In Parliament today Associate Minister of Trade Todd McClay said it would be signed by the New Zealand Government, confirming that the secrecy around the deal will continue until there is no going back.
“This trade agreement has the potential to become a cyst that will release cancer into the lifeblood of our country,” says Mr Tabuteau.
“The TPPA will give foreign corporations an unfair advantage in New Zealand and it undermines our entire New Zealand legal system.
“Mr McClay told Parliament New Zealand will cope ‘extremely well’ should a multinational pursue a billion dollar lawsuit. He is living in ‘la-la’ land.”
Mr McClay argues New Zealand has not been sued in the past, says Mr Tabuteau. That is no defence against future claims especially given lawsuits are a growing trend.
“Other countries are pulling out or working to remove investor state dispute clauses from their free trade agreements to avoid these types of lawsuits.
“But this government continues to play murder ball with our economy in the blind hope that these clauses won’t get used when we try to raise our minimum wage, protect our environment or provide quality affordable healthcare.
“New Zealand First is all for trade with other countries, but we shouldn’t be secretly selling our soul inside trade agreements,” says Mr Tabuteau.
ENDS
Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz
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