China applies to NZ overnight for permission to join CPTPP, which Australia is in but the US is not; Application puts NZ in awkward spot with two largest trading partners; Bloomfield sets 90% target
I remember the Trans Pacific Partnership as being terrible for our sovereignty and intellectual property rights with special private courts being the mechanism used to settle disputes. USA does not share our concerns around GMO products - the same concerns that Europe shares also leading to the failure of the TTIP deal over there. Free trade is not a panacea for economic growth and success,or has the potential to empower large global companies and undermine local producers.
NZ doesn't have permanent friends or permanent enemies, it only has permanent interests. Bernard's solution is the best - we should invite China, the USA & the UK to apply for membership. If that gives us a back door FTA with the USA & the UK then it's a win:win.
I think AUKUS is a dumb idea. If the USA diverted the $T's it wastes on defence spending into a no strings aid programme for those countries it wishes to get onside, this would be a far better way of promoting world peace. The USA did this post WW2 with its Marshall Plan grants which rebuilt war devastated western Europes & kept that part of the world friends with the USA.
Government will never mandate vaccinations because it is against fundamental human rights. Please stop ignoring this - if this is sacrificed to protect the health of society, there is nothing worthwhile in society worth protecting anymore as fundamental human rights haven't been respected.
None of this speaks to the level of reform required to achieve de growth to the extent we are now obliged to aim for in the climate crisis. Blithely rushing off a cliff and lead by leaders concerned more about geopolitical interests than the change in systems required in the interests of their people but sticking to failed idealogies and power plays. One can only hope it’s just posturing and major reform can come about in Glasgow. What are the chances?
This meat in the political sandwich business is likely to be serious ongoing problem, as China flexes it’s economic (as well as its supply and logistics control) might. To be fair it was neoliberalism and globalism which originated from the west, that has fuelled China’s rise in power - and its hegemonic demands.
The more power China gets, the more it will likely squeeze. Giving into discrete or overt bullying guarantees it will continue. It would be surprising if Australia agreed. We are seen as a weak link in the chain. I agree tactfulness is required.
We should never have gotten in the situation whereby most of our economic/supply chain eggs were put in a few baskets totally controlled by other countries or multinationals. We should be seeking multiple additional alternative supply chain partners.
These “free” trade pacts are primarily a “free” passport for multinational corporations to raid the resources of countries and avoid regulation. The general public bears the cost of this mammoth give-away.
We should have fair trade pacts negotiated one on one with various countries worldwide - with reasonable give and take, which recognises the need for individual countries to protect certain industries (hence jobs), and to regulate against unscrupulous activity by multinationals. The objective of forcing mass multilateral agreements is to create pressure that benefits the profit of multinationals, (to the disadvantage of sovereign nations and their citizens.)
The US has occupying forces in multiple countries. It would be interesting to track China’s control of resources and logistics, especially in Africa and Oceania - where unrepayable debt may be called upon - creating quite a threat if there is a set-to between China and the US.
When initially looking into the beginnings of Covid - I discovered a lot of the big fashion designers in Italy, reportedly hire Chinese workers to keep costs down. You might find it interesting to look into.
Slavery isn’t dead. It just comes in a greater variety of ethnic sources of slave-like labour - geared to keep operating costs down - to maximize profits of multinationals.
I remember the Trans Pacific Partnership as being terrible for our sovereignty and intellectual property rights with special private courts being the mechanism used to settle disputes. USA does not share our concerns around GMO products - the same concerns that Europe shares also leading to the failure of the TTIP deal over there. Free trade is not a panacea for economic growth and success,or has the potential to empower large global companies and undermine local producers.
NZ doesn't have permanent friends or permanent enemies, it only has permanent interests. Bernard's solution is the best - we should invite China, the USA & the UK to apply for membership. If that gives us a back door FTA with the USA & the UK then it's a win:win.
I think AUKUS is a dumb idea. If the USA diverted the $T's it wastes on defence spending into a no strings aid programme for those countries it wishes to get onside, this would be a far better way of promoting world peace. The USA did this post WW2 with its Marshall Plan grants which rebuilt war devastated western Europes & kept that part of the world friends with the USA.
Government will never mandate vaccinations because it is against fundamental human rights. Please stop ignoring this - if this is sacrificed to protect the health of society, there is nothing worthwhile in society worth protecting anymore as fundamental human rights haven't been respected.
None of this speaks to the level of reform required to achieve de growth to the extent we are now obliged to aim for in the climate crisis. Blithely rushing off a cliff and lead by leaders concerned more about geopolitical interests than the change in systems required in the interests of their people but sticking to failed idealogies and power plays. One can only hope it’s just posturing and major reform can come about in Glasgow. What are the chances?
This meat in the political sandwich business is likely to be serious ongoing problem, as China flexes it’s economic (as well as its supply and logistics control) might. To be fair it was neoliberalism and globalism which originated from the west, that has fuelled China’s rise in power - and its hegemonic demands.
The more power China gets, the more it will likely squeeze. Giving into discrete or overt bullying guarantees it will continue. It would be surprising if Australia agreed. We are seen as a weak link in the chain. I agree tactfulness is required.
We should never have gotten in the situation whereby most of our economic/supply chain eggs were put in a few baskets totally controlled by other countries or multinationals. We should be seeking multiple additional alternative supply chain partners.
These “free” trade pacts are primarily a “free” passport for multinational corporations to raid the resources of countries and avoid regulation. The general public bears the cost of this mammoth give-away.
We should have fair trade pacts negotiated one on one with various countries worldwide - with reasonable give and take, which recognises the need for individual countries to protect certain industries (hence jobs), and to regulate against unscrupulous activity by multinationals. The objective of forcing mass multilateral agreements is to create pressure that benefits the profit of multinationals, (to the disadvantage of sovereign nations and their citizens.)
The US has occupying forces in multiple countries. It would be interesting to track China’s control of resources and logistics, especially in Africa and Oceania - where unrepayable debt may be called upon - creating quite a threat if there is a set-to between China and the US.
When initially looking into the beginnings of Covid - I discovered a lot of the big fashion designers in Italy, reportedly hire Chinese workers to keep costs down. You might find it interesting to look into.
Slavery isn’t dead. It just comes in a greater variety of ethnic sources of slave-like labour - geared to keep operating costs down - to maximize profits of multinationals.