Anti-globalization protestors picketed 400 negotiators from nine nations when they arrived at a New Zealand hotel Monday for the fourth round of a series of talks on a multi- national free trade pact, dpa reported.
Delegates from New Zealand, Chile, Brunei, Singapore, the United States, Australia, Malaysia, Peru and Vietnam are taking part in the talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement behind closed doors in an Auckland hotel.
Auckland University academic Jane Kelsey, a prominent anti-free trade campaigner, told protesters the agreement would give foreign investors the right to trump New Zealand's democratic process, news reports said.
She claimed the US would not allow New Zealand, the world's biggest exporter of milk products, free access to its dairy market and would challenge the monopoly of the country's state-owned Pharmac agency that decides which drugs get governments subsidies.
The Green Party revealed a leaked submission to the US government by tobacco company Philip Morris opposing state laws governing anti- smoking warnings on cigarette packets.
"Most New Zealanders will be shocked to learn Philip Morris is using trade agreements to try to stop governments from introducing anti-smoking measures," said Green Party co-leader Russel Norman. "But it is true."
The talks are expected to last a week. The TPPA originated with a free trade pact between New Zealand and Singapore in 2001. Chile and Brunei joined four years later. The US, Australia, Peru and Vietnam agreed to join negotiations in 2008 and Malaysia earlier this year.
Previous rounds of negotiations were held in Melbourne, San Francisco and Brunei this year.
Anti-globalization protestors confront free trade negotiators
Anti-globalization protestors picketed 400 negotiators from nine nations when they arrived at a New Zealand hotel Monday for the fourth round of a series of talks on a multi- national free trade pact, dpa reported.
