US Trade Tariffs against China
Make no mistake: this is the single biggest anti-trade act the world has seen since the Iranian revolution’s nationalisation program from 1979.
Economy
trade
Post TPPA signing
It’s Our Future spokesperson Oliver Hailes was on RNZ yesterday succinctly pointing out the problem with Labour and NZF’s u-turn on the TPPA. He also recently co-authored an article in the NZ Medical Journal on the TPPA, climate change and health.
TPPA rally at parliament today
Protestors will gather outside Parliament at midday on Thursday 8 March to hear from a range of speakers in opposition to the TPPA signing ceremony in Chile
Reports from the TPPA protests this week (and please sign the petition)
The message coming out is hold the line, sign the petition, regroup, and protest on Thurs the 8th, the day Labour puts our name to the agreement.
Putting some steel into trade
Does anyone want to take a punt on where the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum will go?
Golriz Ghahraman in the House on the TPPA
“As Greens, what’s particularly chilling to us is that we know elsewhere in the world where ISDS clauses have been accessed to sue Governments, corporates have used them to stop environmental protection.” … “The Indonesian environmental Minister had to admit, ‘If we shut them down, they will need compensation and Indonesia can’t afford it.’ That is chilling.”
Tax Haven Man in Town
The Lord Mayor of the City of London is visiting New Zealand. Its not Sadiq Khan, Charles Bowman is a PwC partner leading London’s financial centre lobby. He’s here to talk to business and regulators. He’ll no doubt be talking up more deregulation.
TPPA-11 update and actions
The TPPA-11 is set to be signed on March 8. There are still huge problems with the agreement for NZ. Jane Kelsey provides an update.
No change to Green position on TPP
“…we still don’t believe there are sufficient safeguards for people and the environment that would enable us to support the deal” – James Shaw
Revised TPPA to be signed?
Radio New Zealand is reporting that Canadian concerns about the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement have been addressed and the agreement is scheduled to be signed in March.
Tampa, Ardern and positioning small countries
There are major similarities between Helen Clark’s decision to accept into New Zealand refugees from the Tampa boat and Jacinda Ardern’s pushing for New Zealand to accept refugees based on Manus Island.
Greens oppose rebranded TPPA
The Green Party will vote against the TPPA.
The TPP11 negotiations: ISDS provisions are gone – almost
David Parker has confirmed that the TPP11 negotiations have resulted in a considerable minimising of the ISDS provisions. But will this be enough?
TPP11 close to being signed?
Mesia reports suggest that a possible TPP11 agreement is close to being signed.
Trust, Labour and the TPPA
A look at Labour’s PR around the TPPA-11, and a campaign by Action Station to stop the signing.
Deary me.
It would seem Labour’s got nuffin when it comes to the TPP.
The new government and the TPPA-11
An update from Professor Jane Kelsey on the TPPA-11, a look at the issues for the new Labour-led government, and reasons why we still need to be concerned.
National pushing through with secret TPP talks before the election
“This continues National’s desperation to see a TPPA at any cost”
Reasons to vote Green: the TPPA
A strong Green Party presence in government is the best way to prevent the TPPA, and is critical in protecting NZ’s environment and social and political sovereignty.
Why the America’s Cup is better than Rugby
And now for something completely different. Is the America’s cup a more potent example of New Zealand’s unique place in the world than the Rigby World Cup.
Campbell on the TPP cargo cult
Gordon Campbell: “The TPP has literally become a cargo cult ritual that’s being performed in the hope that someday, one day, the Americans will return, bearing gifts.”
Another reason for water pricing
The Government will be embarassed by another example of a corporation planning to extract ten billion litres of fresh water a year essentially at no cost which has arisen.
RIP TPP
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and leaving the agreement effectively dead in its tracks.
Hard Brexit
Theresa May has finally set out some guidelines on the shape of Brexit. Out of the single market, rejecting the European court, full border control.
English in England
The usual media suspects are digging pretty deep to try and find anything supportive to say about English’s UK visit. English himself sounds like he has been put in his place.
TPP: An epitaph for self-interested treaties done in secret
The misogynist buffoon, under-skilled charlatan and ignorant bigot that the Americans have elected to be their constitutional monarch for the next four years appears to have effectively killed the constraint of trade agreement known as the TPP. From a freer trade advocate, avid exporter, and labour movement supporter with a touch of green :- Good riddance.
NZ Tech
The top 200 tech “exporters” are now turning over NZD 9.4 billion. This year revenue increased by more that NZD 1 billion. Which is pretty phenomenal bearing in mind the sluggish world economy. It meant that they grew an additional 3000 odd highly paid jobs in just those top companies. Even this intellectually bereft government isn’t proving to be too much of a hindrance to tech business.
TPP – Let it go John
So Key has been trying to explain the TPP to America. Apart from looking ridiculous, what did he think he was going to accomplish?
Abrupt climate change: CO2 equivalent now at 485 ppm
We are now at 485 ppm CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas concentrations, up from 250 ppm in the 1700s. And climbing fast.
TPP – with a whimper
Plenty of folk today pronouncing the death of the TPP. This is a victory for activism.
Legalize It
Is it time for a referendum on marijuana? There is strong support for the use of medicinal marijuana. Should we just admit that Kiwis like smoking dope and simply legalise it?
Stiglitz on the globalisation revolt
Globalisation is facing a popular revolt. Economist Joseph Stiglitz explains why.
Trade retaliation
The Nats are in a difficult spot here, no doubt about it. The weak steel is a serious issue and it should be investigated. But their usual tactics of deny and lie have been caught out yet again.
TPP teetering on the precipice
A silver lining in the depressing chaos of the American presidential process.
#Sheepgate – The Compensation payment for the claim that did not exist
The Nation has been doing some digging into #Sheepgate and last weekend broadcast its results. There were some findings that if confirmed should result in McCully’s cabinet career being ended. Not to mention a potential Privileges Hearing to decide if he has misled Parliament.
We’re going to burn it all, until we burn it down.
What does it really mean to reduce NZ’s total fossil fuel use by 50% by 2030: a warm up discussion for an upcoming thought experiment.