20 MARCH 2018
ARE YOU
ON BOARD?
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
(CPTTP) trade agreement has the potential to transform the agricultural sector
and, at the same time, benefit the environment, but agribusiness expert Dr Nic
Lees of Lincoln University says the public still needs to be convinced.
EXPORTERS EXASPERATED
It is clearly in New Zealand’s interest to push for CPTPP to be signed and ratified
without delay, the voice of New Zealand exporters ExportNZ says. “This ensures
that the agreement gets up and running quickly, and we begin to claw back some of the
advantage gained by Australia in the Japanese market,” the organisation says. “It also
puts the CPTPP members in a stronger position when negotiating with Trump and his team.
This position gets even stronger if others join the CPTPP ahead of the US. This is only going
to happen if CPTPP enters into force.” ExportNZ says it is exasperating to watch completed trade
agreements unravel before our eyes, and warns that New Zealand should expect further attempts to
spoil CPTPP from Washington, with delaying tactics from President Trump.