Exporters place TPP high on wishlist

"This is still the biggest and the best deal we are going to get." Catherine Beard, Export NZ executive director

A second attempt at the Trans Pacific Pacific partnership is high on an election ‘‘wishlist’’ put forward by exporters.

Export NZ and its sister group the Employers and Manufacturers Association have released election ‘‘manifestos,’’ calling on political parties to keep the needs of exporters top of mind.

New Zealand is one of 11 countries which have resolved to push on with the TPP despite the United States’ withdrawal, and Export NZ’S executive director Catherine Beard said the country had a lot to gain if it could get it right.

‘‘This is still the biggest and the best deal we are going to get, and to be left out of TPP-11 if it comes together would make our biggest exporting sectors increasingly uncompetitive in the fast growing Asia Pacific region.’’

Because the highest tariffs still tended to be on primary exports, New Zealand needed to make sure it took all opportunities going, Beard said.

That included looming free trade deals with post-brexit Britain, the EU, the US and the ‘‘Pacific Alliance,’’ four major South American economies.

There was also a need to focus on greater exporter support in Asia and Africa where the going was tougher, but the long-term opportunities were significant, she said.

And whoever leads the next government should put a priority on taking the pressure off the New Zealand dollar by balancing the budget, keeping low interest rates and targeting inflation, Beard said.

The EMA said it echoed Export NZ’S goal of 90 per cent of the country’s export goods coming under free trade agreements.

‘‘As a nation we rely heavily on trade for jobs and growth,’ the association’s chief executive Kim Campbell said.

‘‘Which is why it’s vital whoever is in government in the next term ensures our trade agenda progresses and remains on track.’’

A trade agreement with Japan - which TPP11 would deliver – was important. ‘‘If we don’t, we will be left behind,’’ Campbell said.

In June New Zealand’s Trade Minister Todd Mcclay visited the US with the view to progressing talks of a free trade deal.

The Government has decided to support the TPP-11 but Mcclay said he did not advocate revoking a controversial chapter of the TPP that deals with intellectual property rights.

‘‘We may have a few things we would like to change, but if everybody does, you are talking about ‘re-negotiation,’’ he said in May.