The Labour Party leader says retaining the drug-buying agency Pharmac must be a bottom line for New Zealand in any trade deal with the United States.
US pharmaceutical manufacturers are lobbying their government to oppose Pharmac in the negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Prime Minister John Key has said the Government will not sign any trade deal that would disadvantage New Zealand, but would not commit to retaining its drug-buying agency as a bottom line.
Labour leader Phil Goff, a former Trade Minister, says New Zealand should not trade Pharmac off for a deal.
