In New Zealand we were greeted yesterday with the news that agreement had been reached in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations. Twelve Pacific rim countries have signed a deal which will effectively remove all tariff barriers on almost everything. Whilst we have not read the fine print, this seems like a significant deal.
But we pause to spare a thought for law professor, Jane Kelsey and her rag tag mob of sheep.
Jane has led the "fight" against the TPP on the grounds that it was being negotiated under strict rules of confidence. By definition secrecy means evils It was being nurtured in dark conspiracies in the closet. Since none of the details of TPP were in the public arena, Jane was free to make stuff up (at which her febrile imagination made her exceptionally prolific). She had become the nation's Chicken Little. A hoard of fearful followers took the streets in what the media consistently described as "large" demonstrations against the deal. Sadly (for Jane) it turns out that the text of TPP appears to contain none of the cruel wickednesses she has railed against. Doubtless her febrifacient imagination will have lost none of its potency, however. We expect that she will claim to have been vastly successful because the negotiators of twelve countries listened to her and ensured that the agreement did not contain any of the closet evils against which she has railed for over two years.
Good one, Jane. Meanwhile, back to the real world, we have consistently supported free trade deals voluntarily entered into by nations, and ratified by their constituent assemblies. In principle, free trade deals reduce the power of the state to interfere in free commerce. In principle, free trade represents the internationalisation of the free market, which, in turn, is based upon universal private property rights (which in turn are derived from the Eighth Commandment. In principle, free trade agreements between nations over time provides a significant and powerful incentive to maintain peace. It weakens the spirits of the nationalist and the bellicose. Over time, national economies have too much to lose if they become belligerent towards their free trade partners. Over time, free trade agreements attenuate the idolatry of nationalism.
We wait to see whether all twelve nations which have negotiated the TPP will go on to ratify the agreements by their respective constituent assemblies and parliaments. We expect they will. There is so much to gain if they do, yet much to lose if they do not.
NZ negotiator-in-chief, Tim Groser was quoted by the Washington Post as he reflected upon the deal:
“Long after details of things like tons of butter sold are regarded as a footnote in history, the bigger picture of what we achieved today will be what remains,” New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser said. “Our industry structures will change in response to the opportunities in this agreement. In future years, we will be absolutely certain of the depth of achievement we reached at this point in our collective history.”
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