Category Archives: Uncategorized

It is now clear, however, there is an even more insidious and threatening danger at the heart of this secret agreement.   One clause that the Americans will insist on (as they have done with other similar agreements) is a provision … Continue reading →

Leaders of the nine governments participating in negotiations for a Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade and investment agreement met during the first day of the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Honolulu today. After sifting through the deluge of documents released after today’s … Continue reading →

New Leaked Texts Reveal Details of US Attack on Pharmac in Free Trade Talks The leaking of three further secret texts from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations confirms fears that the US is pushing for rules on healthcare products … Continue reading →

. Government should stand firm on tobacco plain packaging legislation, and withdraw from restrictive treaties, says Fair Trade group “The move by Philip Morris tobacco company to sue the Australian government  using an obscure bilateral investment treaty with Hong Kong … Continue reading →

“When Prime Minister John Key addressed the Australian Parliament he talked about Australia and New Zealand ‘joining forces at the negotiated table’ for a nine-country Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPPA). But the two countries aren’t on the same negotiating page”, said … Continue reading →

A formal request has been made to the Chief Human Rights Commissioner to examine the implications of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) for New Zealand’s international and domestic human rights obligations. “Governments have a duty to take into account … Continue reading →

The lobby group for the US drug companies, PhRMA has launched a direct and vitriolic attack on Pharmac, the New Zealand drug purchasing body, TPPA-critic Professor Jane Kelsey said. Their submissions urges the US Trade Representative to use the Trans-Pacific … Continue reading →

National Party MP Katrina Shanks announced in parliament yesterday that “It is really important to remember that file sharing is an illegal activity.”  Actually, Katrina, it’s not. And this poorly conceived new bill that was bounced into law yesterday makes … Continue reading →

A petition calling for a select committee hearing on the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and its implications for New Zealanders was presented at Parliament today. The petition was signed on behalf of sixteen union, sectoral, industry and community organisations, … Continue reading →