| CAFCA
views, analyses, research
All are documents in Word 97 format unless otherwise stated
The problems of free trade, investment and globalisation
Don’t talk about exports, by Bill Rosenberg
A central feature of the Labour/Alliance government’s
economic programme is its assistance to industry and regional development.
However, agreements such as those under the World Trade Organisation
(WTO), the Singapore-New Zealand “Closer Economic Partnership” agreement,
and CER constrain the government’s ability to provide assistance to
industry, particularly if it favours locally owned companies or involves
exports.
Government officials, from Ministers down, have
been warned not to even talk about industry assistance programmes
for increasing exports.
This is a longer version of an article published
in the “Independent” business weekly on 17 October 2001, “Loose lips
sink subsidies: International agreements constrain our economic development”.
The Globalisation of Poverty,
by Bill Rosenberg
“Globalisation of Poverty” has two meanings: firstly, it simply refers
to the terrible fact that, not just in isolation but around the globe,
poverty is once again on the increase. Professor Michel Chossudovsky,
who visited Aotearoa/New Zealand in 1999, described some of it as
poverty on a scale never seen before in history. But globalisation
has another meaning: increasing economic integration between countries.
Chossudovsky described how this is leading to the global spread of
poverty. This paper describes how the same increasing economic integration
is also a major contributor to Aotearoa/New Zealand’s present state.
Free trade and New Zealand agriculture,
by Bill Rosenberg
A paper prepared for
a debate with free trade advocate and MFAT trade envoy, Malcolm Bailey,
on "Free Trade or Fair Trade" at the AGM of Marlborough
Federated Farmers in May 2000.
Equity Conflicts in Environment and Trade,
by Bill Rosenberg
How environmental concerns and trade rules conflict. Presented
to a Resource Management Law Association conference workshop in 1999.
Free
trade vs economic development - paper for Alliance National Conference
workshop, by Bill Rosenberg
Two policies are more
than anything associated with the Alliance: an explicit, active and
interventionist policy on economic development, and a critical view
of the “open economy”. They are entirely consistent with each other.
What most distinguishes the Alliance from its coalition partner, Labour,
is the open economy. The Alliance campaigned strongly against the
MAI. In stark contrast, the Singapore free trade agreement signals
that Labour will pursue its open economy policies aggressively. Bill Rosenberg was invited by the Alliance to
run this workshop at its National Conference in October 2000. It attracted
a large audience. This background paper was prepared for it.
(A PDF - Acrobat - file.)
WTO
New WTO
"New Issues" = Old MAI, by Bill Rosenberg
Remember the proposed MAI – the Multilateral Agreement on Investment?
It’s back again wearing a trendy “development” T-shirt and claiming
it has been converted to moderation. Don’t believe it. Proposed new
agreements on investment and competition in the WTO, among others,
will threaten development options, undermine community and producer
organisations, and speed the commercialisation and privatisation of
public services. (A PDF - Acrobat - file.)
The proposed 2001 New Zealand-Hong Kong free trade and
investment agreement
The New Zealand
and Hong Kong governments held unsuccessful negotiations in 2001
with the aim of negotiating a free trade and investment agreement.
This 64 page study found that if such
an agreement was based on the Singapore-New Zealand
Closer Economic Partnership, an existing Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreement, and the WTO, it presented numerous dangers
to New Zealand. (PDF - Acrobat - files.) Since then an agreement
has been reached (2010).
Arena’s submission
to MFAT on the proposed Hong Kong free trade and investment agreement
(in addition to “Globalisation by Stealth”).
Tariffs and Rules of Origin – the effect on
the Textiles, Clothing and Footwear industry. Supplementary Submission
by the Central Districts Federated Clothing, Laundry and Allied Workers
Union on the proposed Hong Kong free trade and investment agreement.
(Prepared by Bill Rosenberg.)
Myths of MFAT consultation and expertise disturbed
in Hong Kong negotiations: are consultations genuine? Is the advice
they are giving on the crucial issue of expropriation sound? This
is a longer version of an article published in the “Independent” business
weekly on 5 September
2001, “Debunking myths of MFAT consultation and
expertise in Hong Kong negotiations”.
Proposed US-NZ Free Trade Agreement
What price free trade with the U.S?, by Bill Rosenberg
It looks like we’re back to “trade access for
troops” diplomacy. Muldoon used to claim (with scant evidence) that
military ties to the U.S. improved access for our agricultural exports.
Helen Clark hints that her government’s offer of SAS troops to the
war in Afghanistan has eased the way for a Free Trade Agreement with
the U.S. Morality aside, is such an agreement worth pursuing?
Singapore Free Trade Agreement
CAFCA Submission
on the Singapore Free Trade Agreement
What are the implications for foreign investment, services, competition,
government procurement, tariffs and other aspects of our economy,
of the Free Trade Agreement with Singapore? Is it a "creeping
MAI"? Singapore is a big investor in Aotearoa/New Zealand. What
are its policies at home? This comprehensive submission, which focuses
on the farcical process used to adopt the Agreement, and on the implications
for foreign investment and services, also backgrounds Singapore investment
in New Zealand and its policies at home. Recent investments are listed
and analysed to show the implications of these developments.
(A PDF - Acrobat - file.)
Jane Kelsey's Submission on the Singapore Agreement
A detailed and
devastating analysis of the agreement, in principle, and article by
article by Professor Jane Kelsey, of the Faculty of Law, Auckland
University. (A PDF - Acrobat - file.)
Singapore Agreement:
A Trojan Horse for investment too, by Bill Rosenberg
This article
looks at two of the main effects on opening investment through the
Singapore Free Trade Agreement. "Its unprecedented provisions
could form a back door entry to New Zealand for overseas investors
wanting to avoid tighter controls. Given Singapore’s strategic position
as a Southeast Asian commercial hub, the agreement will undermine
the efforts of a New Zealand government trying to regain some control
over hot capital or foreign investment in general." (a Web - HTML - document)
Singapore Agreement dilutes
our sovereignty, by Jane Kelsey
Originally published
in the New Zealand Herald, Dialogue page, 20 September 2000 as "Trade
treaty dilutes our Sovereignty" (a Web - HTML - document).
Policy and constitutional implications of the
Singapore agreement, by Bill Rosenberg
Article also
published in Otago Daily Times, Press, Evening Post and Scoop (a Web
- HTML - document).
APEC
Foreign Investment and APEC,
by Bill Rosenberg
APEC is about foreign investment as well as trade liberalisation.
Implications of the APEC agenda,
by Bill Rosenberg
More on foreign investment and APEC, debunking the "benefits"
of free trade and investment.
APEC Inquiry submission 1998
Submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into APEC. Focuses on
investment, and contains a thorough case against liberalising foreign
investment flows into Aotearoa/New Zealand.
After APEC, by Bill Rosenberg
Looking at the results of the September 1999 APEC leaders' meeting
in Auckland.
CER
In 2000, the
Defence, Foreign Affairs and Trade Select Committee held an Inquiry
into New Zealand’s relationship with Australia. CAFCA’s submission
focuses on two areas: investment, and a single trans-Tasman currency.
(A PDF - Acrobat - file.)
Mike Moore, WTO Director-General
Review of Moore's latest book,
by Dennis Small
A critical review of the latest book by Mike Moore, the politician
from Aotearoa/New Zealand who is now Director General of the World
Trade Organisation (WTO). Mike Moore used this book as part of his
self-promotion to be the new WTO Director General. He was backed by
the US in his campaign for the position. Moore has been the butt of
some ridicule in Aotearoa/NZ because of the bombastic crudity and
simplicity of his views on free trade and the future of capitalism
in general. Ironically, in his book he again provides plenty of ammunition
for those who oppose the WTO/World Bank/IMF/etc. agenda for the world.
Mike Moore: A view from New Zealand,
by Bill Rosenberg
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