"The big point is not the saving we would make on tariff reductions, it's the access it ensures. If we opted out we would gradually get squeezed out [of markets]."
Mr Borrows believed the gains were understated and would be more than people expected.
He was not concerned about increased operating costs for Pharmac. The $2.2 million of a health budget of $16 billion was small and worth it, if the country increased its revenue.
"Look at it as a whole package against the negative. If we've got access to markets so we can sell a truckload more product, then companies are paying a truckload more tax.
"On the face of it, it looks quite good and I'll be interested to see how it stacks up."
TPPA Action Whanganui's Denise Lockett, who has been campaigning against the deal, called it an insult.
"We obviously can't give up," she said. "We have to keep up the pressure. I almost see future court cases."
Ms Lockett said any gain in market access for New Zealand exports was marginal.
"I think if our farmers aren't insulted, God help them," she said. "I would question the gains against what they might have sold us out on.
"What's going to happen to our domestic markets when all this foreign product starts coming in? All we are hearing is this little joyous propaganda piece that tells us nothing."
Federated Farmers Wanganui president Brian Doughty said while dairy might not have got the tariff reductions it was after, he expected those tariffs to reduce in time. Other parts of the agricultural sector would benefit immediately.
"Hopefully, dairy will come right at the end of the day, which has to be good."
Mr Doughty expected an increase in employment within the sector.
"As far as local farmers are concerned, it will see an increase in their profits," he said.
"I've said it all along and I'll say it again, if we don't open the door we're not going to be able to sit around the table. That's got to be good to start with."