Articles

TPP grinds inexorably on

TPP grinds inexorably on

It ain’t over, till it’s over, writes Stephen in his latest commentary on TPP published by NBR On Line. Reports of the imminent demise of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) are greatly exaggerated.  While some momentum has certainly been lost in recent months, TPP is...

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TPP and the primary industries

TPP and the primary industries

Mention of TPP causes different reactions - fear and loathing in some quarters, unbridled optimism in others. Today we meet against the backdrop of the most recent gathering of TPP Trade Ministers in Singapore. In a pattern that has been repeated several times in...

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The next generation of FTAs – what does business want?

The next generation of FTAs – what does business want?

While in Qingdao , China, for the APEC Senior Officials' meeting Stephen spoke to a workshop focused on sharing information between free trade agreements in operation in the Asia Pacific region.  He outlined what business wants to see from FTAs and what the APEC...

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Preparing for FTA negotiations

Preparing for FTA negotiations

On 6-10 May Stephen was in Qingdao, China, attending meetings of APEC Senior Officials. On 6 May he addressed a workshop aimed at helping APEC economies to prepare for FTA negotiations.  He spoke about the importance of consulting with the business community: "More...

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Think global, act global

Think global, act global

On 2 May 2014 Stephen was honoured to join the community of Whititreia International at their graduation ceremony.  In his address to graduands Stephen urged them to take advantage of the new dimensions of a globalized world: "You have heard it said:  “think global,...

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TPP and Japan – hopefully not back to the future

TPP and Japan – hopefully not back to the future

President Obama’s visit to Tokyo 23-25 April should tell us whether there is a way forward with the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiation.  It is in the nature of trade negotiations to teeter on the brink of collapse but there is concern that momentum risks...

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TPP study was robust

TPP study was robust

Trade policy today is mostly not about tariffs. The vast bulk of the world's wealth today is generated by trade in services, not goods. Finding ways to speed up the movement of goods and reduce costs may be even more significant than reductions in duties and taxes....

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