New Zealand, Chile and Singapore announced the start of negotiations(external link) for a new trade and investment initiative called the Green Economy Partnership Agreement (GEPA).
Sue Coutts from ZWA has outlined some of our thinking and concerns about this new trade deal in a submission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She notes that, “Trade agreements based in good practice will catalyse the New Zealand’s government and businesses to progress key actions that will underpin a shift to a safe, clean, green low carbon resource efficient economy.”
ZWA’s overall view about such a trade deal is that it must:
● Take a precautionary approach to waste to energy and incineration activities including sustainable aviation fuel and use of hazardous materials and chemicals of concern. These have complex environmental, economic and health impacts which need careful consideration. They have the potential to cause more problems than they solve.
● Align New Zealand legislation, regulation and trade activities with good practice models being developed in Europe and other proactive jurisdictions as this will ensure access to high value markets and clean, safe and sustainable products and packaging.
● Invest in policy work on legislation, regulation, compliance, monitoring and enforcement so New Zealand catches up with our key trading partners and New Zealand businesses are supported to put products and packaging on the market that meets standards and back the 100% pure NZ brand.
● Take a holistic approach that considers impacts across systems, boundaries, borders and global networks so cost and risk is not displaced to other countries.
● It is critical that Māori are actively engaged in the development of trade policy and negotiations, that Māori rights and interests are reflected and that Te Tiriti is at the heart of discussions, policy development and negotiations.