Jane Kelsey, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
For years, New Zealand has tried to separate its economic dependency on China from its pro-Western strategic alliances. The new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework tests that balancing act even more.
Anti-TPPA protesters march down Auckland’s Queen Street in 2015.
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Jane Kelsey, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
More countries, including a post-Brexit UK, are looking at joining the CPTPP free trade agreement. But the secrecy around negotiations makes serious analysis virtually impossible.
China must boost its productivity to compete with TPP members.
China Daily Information Group/Reuters
There’s still some way to go before the 12 countries involved can celebrate.
Representatives of the 12 Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) member countries at a press conference in Atlanta, after a deal was reached.
EPA/Erik S. Lesser
Before the last round of negotiations, only a handful of issues remained in the way of concluding the TPP. A potential deal-breaker for Australia was intellectual property protections for biologics.
Trade minister Andrew Robb attends negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership in Sydney last year.
Dan Himbrechts/AAP Image
Over the next few weeks, the trade minister will be under intense pressure to renege on the government’s commitment to reject anything in the Trans Pacific Partnership that could undermine the PBS.
If the proposals are agreed, they could delay the market entry of generic medicines in the region – and the impact will be felt around the world.
Jeng_Niamwhan
Seven rounds of negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership have already taken place with virtually no public debate. The next round of negotiations begins today in Kyoto, Japan.
Despite assurances from Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb, the TPP could negatively affect Australian health policy.
Dan Himbrechts/AAP
The latest part of the TPP to be leaked is its investment chapter. And like almost everything we know about the secretive negotiations for the agreement, it provides plenty of cause for concern.
There are doubts provisions will benefit copyright holders.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Last week Michael Froman, a US trade representative, took his son touring around the Paramount lot in Hollywood to visit a sound mixing stage, watch a movie and pose for happy snaps with company executives…
The Australian government appears to be contemplating signing a version of the agreement that would restrict its power to apply strong health warnings to alcohol products.
camknows/Flickr
New rules for alcohol labelling were discussed in Malaysia earlier this week by countries negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The proposed rules could stymie the introduction of effective health…
A Trans Pacific Partnership meeting hosted by US President Barack Obama with the Sultan of Brunei and prime ministers from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia , Singapore and Vietnam, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on November 20, 2012.
AAP Image/Auspic, David Foote
International trade agreements bring new transnational food companies into countries, along with new food advertising and promotion. This has often led to an increase in unhealthy foods entering the domestic…
Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and Health Minister Tanya Plibersek take questions after the High Court decision.
AAP/Lukas Coch
The government and health advocates are deservedly celebrating the High Court decision on plain packaging. But tobacco companies have been quick to note that while they’ve lost a key battle, they intend…
The High Court has ruled the enforcing plain packaging is constitutionally legal.
AAP/Lukas Coch
After much political debate, the Australian Parliament passed the Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011 (Cth). Australian legislators, such as Richard di Natale, provided moving accounts for the need for plain…
Leaders of the member states of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP) from 2010.
Gobierno de Chile/Wikimedia Commons
According to the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Ron Kirk, the Trans-Pacific Partnership is “an ambitious, next-generation, Asia-Pacific trade agreement that reflects U.S. priorities and values…
As a major donor in the region, Australia should defend countries facing the possibility of unaffordable medicines.
US Navy/Wikimedia Commons
Australia is taking a strong stance to protect its health and medicines policies during negotiations for the new regional trade agreement, the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). This negotiating…
The task of simultaneously negotiating our traditional security and cultural ties with the US, and our burgeoning economic relationship with China, can justifiably be described as the “great foreign policy…
Research Fellow, NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in the Social Determinants of Health Equity, School of Regulation and Global Governance, Australian National University