ISDS Case Map
New Zealand
The NZ Green Party is calling on Labour to halt discussions on an investment treaty because of the threat the treaty poses to our sovereignty and our environmental standards. This follows the announcement today that the United States is seriously considering joining negotiations about an investment treaty between the P4 treaty partners of New Zealand, Chile, Singapore and Brunei.
Trade Minister Phil Goff has welcomed the United States decision to join negotiations with New Zealand and three other countries on a joint financial services and investment agreement.
Once the brouhaha dies down and cabinet ministers pass through the self-congratulatory phase, the hard questions will start over just how good a deal the New Zealand Government has got with China on behalf of New Zealand businesses and farmers.
Kai Luey, president of the New Zealand Chinese Association, says China is using its first free trade agreement as a "guinea pig" to deals with other countries while New Zealand's dairy industry will be the big winner from the pact.
New Zealand Trade Minister Phil Goff says formal talks have now ended on a free trade deal with China. He says all outstanding issues have been resolved after 15 rounds of negotiations. Negotiators will now work their way through about 1000 pages of text before the deal goes to Cabinet for approval.
State of play with New Zealand's trade negotiations
Christchurch supporters of the Human Rights Torch Relay are asking how New Zealand can consider a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China -- a regime facing allegations of large-scale genocide and organ harvesting.
The Bush administration is preparing to negotiate an agreement linking the US, Chile, Singapore, Brunei and New Zealand in a Pacific-region accord to reduce barriers to trade and foreign investment, according to lobbyists briefed by the US trade office.
It would appear that Washington is most interested in forging a deal with the Pacific Four nations (New Zealand, Singapore, Chile and Brunei) who have forged a Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (known as P4).
South-East Asian nations need to put a better offer on the table if they want a free trade deal with Australia and New Zealand, Prime Minister Helen Clark says.
