New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser was upbeat after the talks on the Hawaiian island of Maui.
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“After more than a week of productive meetings we’ve made significant progress and will continue to work on resolving a limited number of remaining issues, paving the way for the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations”, Froman said.
High-level negotiations in Hawaii on a trade agreement in the Pacific Rim wrapped up without a final deal as disagreements over dairy and vehicle policies trumped progress in other areas.
U.S. and Canadian officials have quarreled in recent months over opening up Canada’s highly protected dairy industry, but the dispute has now spread to three of the other developed economies negotiating the agreement-Australia, Japan and New Zealand.
No date has been set for ministers to meet again, but Froman’s statement said they were likely to reconvene soon.
He responded that after the latest round of talks issues which could be considered undergrowth have been cleared away, and they are streets ahead.
“Australia had made some excellent progress but unfortunately some hard issues were not resolved”, he said on Saturday.
Critics say the proposals indicate a deal moving more toward protection than free trade; one more about corporate benefits than boosting economies and development.
Earlier this week, the US – which initiated the TPP – refused to break down trade barriers unless Canada also opens its markets, according to the ABC.
The U.S. Thursday abandoned its longstanding position on the confidentiality of some patent data as officials immersed themselves in the minutiae of Asia-Pacific dairy markets in a bid to clinch a landmark trade deal.
Negotiators would return to their home countries instead of continuing discussions in Hawaii.
“Dairy is key to our future prosperity”, said Mike Petersen, New Zealand’s special envoy for agricultural trade, said in an interview.
However, Mr Groser said he’s extremely confident that the negotiations will eventually find the “sweet spot” on dairy.
Asked how the countries could address falling expectations for a deal, Amari said they should quickly reach an agreement. The pact is seen as the economic arm of the administration’s pivot to Asia and an opportunity to balance out China’s influence in the region. Their numbers will grow.
Mr. Levin said he also wanted the TPP to explicitly reserve the right of member countries to regulate tobacco products.
The lawmakers had broken from most members of their party in giving Obama the authority to negotiate a trade pact that could not be changed by Congress, only voted up or down. Further delay raises the prospect that a deal sealed by Obama might have to be ratified by his successor, just as George H.W. Bush’s North American Free Trade Agreement was secured by Bill Clinton.
The agreement was proposed by Chile, New Zealand and Singapore in 2002, but Washington has taken the lead in promoting it since joining the talks in 2008.
Australia’s bid to export more sugar to the United States has the backing of U.S. confectioners and beverage companies.
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In Australia, several voices in parliament are raising concerns about the potential impact on the national sugar industry. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.
