TPP Ministerial Deadlock.”Good News for People on the Planet”. Worldwide Opposition to Trade Deal

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I was really proud of New Zealand standing up to the US during the trade negotiations in Hawaii. We have an extremely powerful agricultural lobby here. They were were present in Maui to hold our trade minister’s feet to the fire. The minister was told not to sign a deal unless the US, Canada and Japan agreed to open their markets to NZ dairy products (our number one export). The US, Canada and Japan refuse to budge on this issue (and reduce their farm subsidies), owing to their own farm lobby.

The president of the Canadian Dairy Farmers, Wally Smith, blamed New Zealand for the breakdown in the negotiations, accusing us of being “obstinate.”

You better believe it, Sunshine.

Originally posted on Counter Information:

By Stephen Lendman

Global Research, August 02, 2015

Friday’s fourth/dubbed “final” ministerial attempt to reach agreement failed. Global Trade Watch Director Lori Wallach called it a “Maui (Hawaii) meltdown.”

Congress went on five-week summer recess with lots of unfinished business awaiting members in September – notably the Iran nuclear deal and 12 annual spending bills.

Wallach expects no 2015 congressional action on TPP – especially with other nations disagreeing on key provisions still unresolved. She believes chances for agreement are reduced because of “opposition building in many countries.”

“It’s good news for people and the planet that no deal was done at this final do-or-die meeting given the TPP’s threats to jobs, wages, safe food, affordable medicines and more, she explained.

“Only the beleaguered negotiators and most of the 600 official US trade advisors representing corporate interests wanted this deal…” Polls show it’s unpopular in countries involved for good reason.

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