MP hopes TPP debate lingers

Rotorua NZ First list MP Fletcher Tabuteau

Rotorua list MP Fletcher Tabuteau hopes political deadlock in the United States will give Parliament "breathing space" to debate his private member's bill on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The New Zealand First MP and party trade spokesman made the comments yesterday, following Friday's vote in the US House of Representatives that derailed the possibility of fast-tracking presidential authority - threatening the future of the controversial trade treaty.

Mr Tabuteau's Fighting Foreign Corporate Control Bill, which would prevent New Zealand from entering into new trade deals that gave foreign businesses the right to bring investor disputes against the Government, was submitted to the ballot in March.

He warned yesterday Rotorua could be affected "as much, if not more than any part of New Zealand" by provisions in the treaty.

"We are talking about compromising our workers ... we already struggle to get good levels of employment in Rotorua," Mr Tabuteau said.

"We have got primary industry associations in New Zealand asking, what's actually in it for the country?"

But Rotorua MP Todd McClay, the Government's associate Minister of Trade, said any delay in negotiations over the TPP that lasted beyond next year's US presidential elections would be a "missed opportunity" for the Bay of Plenty and the country as a whole.

Increased free trade as provided by the TPP, Mr McClay suggested, could increase these benefits.

"We have been clear that we will only sign up to an agreement of high quality and good for the New Zealand economy," he said.

Mr McClay was also keen to stress that the US vote had not killed off the chances of signing the TPP, and the House has a further vote due later in the week.

Mr Tabuteau agreed the issue was not settled, and welcomed the opportunity for further discussion.

"Hopefully now we have time to debate it."