Powerful US senator in town to push controversial free trade deal
"Let's not sell our trade rights for a few other non-existent political perks. It is comical that the Chinese are fairer trading partners than the US."
Featured commentOne of the most power US senators has arrived in New Zealand to promote the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free pact, currently under negotiation.
Montana Democrat Max Baucus - the head of the Senate's Finance committee, and first elected to represent his state in 1978 - will meet with Prime Minister John Key, Trade Minister Tim Groser, Speaker Lockwood Smith and Maori business leaders.
Our government is already a staunch supporter of the TPP, which has been under negotiation by Pacific Rim countries since 2005.
Agreement has yet to be reachec on a key section of the free trade deal - a US authored chapter on copyright, which opponents say is heavy-handed and would require the re-writing of NZ laws. They see it not just impacting on those who try to play an out-of-region DVD, but the likes of NZ generic drug maker Douglas Pharmaceuticals and retailers who parallel import.
Our government opposes the copyright chapter.
But members of recently-formed lobby group A Fair Deal fear that Mr Groser will make trade-offs on intellectual property issues to ensure access to the US market for our agricultural products. (It was sharp comments about the US approach at the Fair Deal launch that led Judge David Harvey to remove himself from the Kim Dotcom extradition case).
Can I interest you in some Montana beef?
Mr Baucus will be arguing for the US chapter.
His website details additional points of focus as it describes the trip:
"As leader of the Senate Committee that oversees trade, Baucus will promote the Trans-Pacific Partnership - a new free trade agreement that provides the United States with a critical opportunity to break down barriers that have made it difficult to sell Montana products, like beef, in some of the world's most important markets."
It continues:
"New Zealand is a critical partner for us in securing a Trans-Pacific Partnership that will make it easier for Montana to sell our world-class goods in the growing Pacific market and make sure our trading partners play by the rules. When the playing field is level, Montana's farmers, ranchers and entrepreneurs can compete with the best in the world."
Senator Baucus sponsored a visit by New Zealand Ambassador to the United States Mike Moore to Montana as part of the Baucus' 2010 Ambassadors Tour.
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Comments and questions24
Stay strong NZ. Thousands of businesses and millions of voters are at risk with these clauses. Better no agreement than one which destroys that much value.
powerful?
Max Baucus is a senior member of the Senate and chairs its finance committee.
Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives) has to approve the TPP for it to go into effect.
Baucus is a Democrat.
The Democrats have a 53-47 majority in the Senate.
"Level"
http://farm.ewg.org/region.php?fips=30000
Erm "When the playing field is level"? Howse about them farming tariffs aye buddy? Gonna ditch them to help level the playing field? No? I guess we have different definitions of level then.
Let's not sell our trade rights for a few other non-existent political perks. It is comical that the Chinese are fairer trading partners than the US.
You don't want to mess witht he meat in the USA. Remeber it is illegal to even argue that there meat isn't perfect. The Beef Industry was powerful enough to scare Oprah, and she was at the height of her power and popularity. Stay strong NZ!
Why do we need Montana beef? It is grain feed with no flavor, also it has been said that grain fed beef carry more listeria. What else? GE modified fruit and veg? Come on, NZ govt representatives. Get with the program and listen to the public. We grow some of the best meat & produce products in the world! Keep it that way...
I wouldn't prostitute myself for those guys. It will all be one way traffic.
Would be sick if they were to be doing these over the dead bodies of Kiwi soldiers dying in Afghanistan on US behalf wouldn't it?
Maxy has always had a hankerin' to visit NZ, hence, this visit.
Hell, he might even get to have a brief chat with a few govt. officials in between the sightseeing 'n' all.
I don't need my 'scope to see what this is full of.
These guys have just given billions in payments to their dairy farmers and now ask for free trade from us.
They are using us like they used slave labour in China for decades to prop up their crappy economy and poor work ethic.
the americans need the free trade agree-ment more than we do there-fore ther/s no need to to acsept interfearance in our way of doing bissiness the chinese dont inter-fear with our way of doing things and so far the free trade with the chinese is working well we must not allow the american to inter-fear with pharmac the last thing we need is the amrican opology for a health service operating here
but im afraid this goverment hates our health service as much as the amricans
The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement?
What sort of 'partnership' EXCLUDES THE PUBLIC?
BEWARE!
FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS = PRIVATISATION!
FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS ARE FOR INVESTORS - NOT THE PUBLIC MAJORITY!
WHERE IS THE 'TRANSPARENCY' IN THE TPPA NEGOTIATIONS?
Where are the 'minutes' of the meetings?
Whose interests is John Key serving?
Penny Bright
'Anti-corruption campaigner'
www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com
still no word of your Penny Hyper-crite anti-ETS corruption campaign?
Try buying some advanced electronic components from the USA. The pricks will try and get you to sign all sorts of bloody stupid forms. Never had and never will.
Chris, let's remember that this is no longer a "Free Trade Agreement" or an FTA. It's now pitched as a "High Quality Trade Agreement". Not sure what that implies, but as investigative journalists, I reckon you guys are well placed to find out!
I can't remember the last good or service I bought that was made in the US. We do not need this attack on our sovreignty. We are not critically dependent on the US for trade.
We should stick to our principles and say Nein nein nein to the TPP with the US.
While most of us like and admire Americans,we should all be aware that they have the most heavily subsidized farming industry on the planet,
Now we have a lot of bright young New Zealanders working in IT,and they
rely on us to ensure that they are not hamstrung by unfair trade deals,Kiwis will watch this with great interest.
,
Given that the U.S. is a "Johnny Come Lately" to the TPFTA negotiations, should we really be treating their request as a first tier player in this. As the U.S. are so far behind everyone else ,3yrs plus, why aren't the 1st tier players saying " If you want in , these are the terms we've worked out so far, accept them or go fish"
The only thing you can guarantee when you prostitute yourself is that you will get scr*wed....
I'm somewhat astonished to see this much alignment in NBR commenters.
A first.
Was he the guy Mike Moore was escorting last week?
Anyway, I hope our former PM took his guest to Maccas for a Lamburger.
We don't need America.
JK better not sell our Country out.