23 Oct 2017

New govt should approach TPP with caution - critic

10:13 am on 23 October 2017

A long-time critic of the Trans Pacific Partnership is urging the new government to take a cautious approach to the deal.

The incoming Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, has said she supports the proposed trade deal, and will go to next month's Apec meeting in Vietnam to push for changes to it.

Labour's support partners, New Zealand First and the Greens, have opposed the TPP in the past.

Auckland University law professor Jane Kelsey said the government mustn't not be rushed into signing a deal its partners previously opposed.

"It would be a very bad move so early in the new government for it to turn its back on its own previously-expressed concerns about the agreement and proceed to sign New Zealand up."

Labour has called in the past for a proper cost-benefit analysis of the deal, and that should still be done, Dr Kelsey said.

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