Legislation to adopt the Trans Pacific Partnership is on the verge of passing despite howls of derision from Opposition MPs after the election of the anti-TPP Donald Trump as President-elect in the United States.
The Government put the Trans Pacific Partnership legislation up for its final reading today but Parliament ended just short of the end of the debate and it will now be held over until at least next week to pass.
That will make New Zealand the first of the 12 countries in the trade agreement to pass implementing legislation.
However, withdrawing the US from the trade agreement is on Trump's plan for his first 100 days in office, along with seeking to renegotiate or withdraw from NAFTA.
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Advertise with NZME.Speaking in Parliament, Trade Minister Todd McClay congratulated Trump but said it was important for New Zealand to pass the legislation to show leadership on the issue.
"It is important that we give the new President a chance put his team in place and consider his trade agenda. This will obviously take some time. We will be able to work with America on trade.
Now, more than ever, we need to be championing the cause of openness and inclusiveness."
Trump's election has effectively put paid to any hope US President Barack Obama will get it through during his 'lame duck' period.
Prime Minister John Key has conceded there was little chance the TPP agreement would get through in the US in the near future but had not given up all hope, saying Trump would get briefed on its benefits for the US to maintain economic leadership in the Asia Pacific.
The decision to proceed was mocked by Labour, Green and NZ First MPs who oppose the bill.
Trade spokesman David Clark said McClay was the "Patron Saint of Lost Causes."
"He made an earnest plea to this House to support a bill that will not be ratified, that will not enter into force. It is a bill which his own Prime Minister has pretty much said is dead in the water."
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Advertise with NZME.Green MP Gareth Hughes said passing the bill was "the definition of futility."
However, McClay defended the decision to continue with the legislation.
"At times when there is uncertainty in the rest of the world, New Zealand's consistent and trusted voice of negotiating trade outcomes that are good for our economy and good for the world's economy, needs to be heard.
Our role is as a champion for trade liberalisation. In this role today this Parliament must show leadership."
Labour, the Green Party, the Maori Party and NZ First oppose the TPP but the legislation has support from National, Act leader David Seymour and United Future leader Peter Dunne.
The trade agreement between 12 Pacific Rim countries took years to negotiate and the New Zealand Government had hoped it would deliver the long sought-after trade agreement with the United States.
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Advertise with NZME.Labour has opposed it partly because it prevents a ban on foreign buyers of New Zealand property.
The countries in the agreement are New Zealand, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Viet Nam.
