Today I got a little wake-up call. I’ve never thought much about trade agreements in the past but I got pointed out what the downside with an FTA with America (US-joining-P4-whatever) would be. To make a long story short, here they are:
- Weaken or remove our screening of overseas investment
- a free-for-all in purchases of land
- to purchase strategic assets on sensitive land, reversing the recent regulation that allows the government to scrutinise such acquisitions
- a free-for-all in purchases of fishing quota in our economic zone
- to purchase any assets, major or minor, regardless of their character or financial soundness, and without publicity
- Stop the labeling of GE products
- Weaken our laws against GE crops (even more)
- Probably do away with Pharmac and cheap medical drugs
- Weaken our screening of imported foods (BSE cow anyone?)
- Copyright will be even more entrenched as it already is
- Further commercialisation of public companies
- Tie the NZ economy tighter to the global market
- Probably introduce even more private data sharing with the US
I mean -come on- it can’t really be that bad can it? Well I got thinking. Why would the mighty US look for a FTA with NZ?! I thought they dealt in a bigger league. Oh probably because the US economy and politics are benevolent and want to end world hunger.
Not?
I can’t see any reason this FTA should be good for NZ. Individuals might get advantages but not the country. Even those that profit I think will only do so short term. For political parties certainly. If not directly financially then indirectly (*wink* to the big-time farmers) and certainly a political laurel too. It made me very suspicious that both Labour and National completely agree on the topic. It sort of sounds Winstonesque doesn’t it?
OK. I think I definitely made up my mind. I will actively oppose the FTA with the US. The one with China was already a mistake. I think if we need FTAs we need them with equals. Such we are in the current P4 already and that’s OK. I will definitely use my vote to get some sense into politics in NZ and if I get a chance will make my thoughts public (this being a starting point). Read the links below for more food for thought.
http://nznotforsale.wordpress.com/danger-ahead/
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0809/S00328.htm
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4701962a13.html
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/us+free+trade+agreement+negotiations+welcomed
P.S. Dear Americans you’re really trying to make it hard on us to like you. I hope know what your government is doing in your name.