Tag Archives: Stephen Jacobi

May for US-NZ Pacific Partnership Forum

Posted on by
Reply

The US-NZ 2013 Pacific Partnership Forum will be held in Washington, DC from May 19 – 21 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The Forum will bring together New Zealand and US game-changing leaders from business, government, and non-profit organisations to explore the next opportunities for economic growth and cooperation.

Organised by the United States | New Zealand Council in Washington, DC and the NZUS Council in New Zealand, the two-day meeting will focus on the two countries’ shared interests and complementary visions for the future.

The success stories and vision of both NZ and US companies will be prominently featured.

“Today’s NZ – US relationship is about leadership, innovation and a readiness to be a catalyst for positive change in the world”, said William Maroni, president of the US | NZ Council.

“By showcasing examples of real innovation, next year’s Forum will help inform, inspire and shape the next generation of though leaders in business and public policy.”

The 2013 Forum will be the fifth gathering of its kind. It comes at a time when countries and companies will compete to discover, define and deliver the next opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. The Forum also occurs at a time when newly-appointed Members of President Obama’s Cabinet and newly-elected Members of the U.S. Congress will be defining their goals for the next two to four years.

Stephen Jacobi“Next May is likely to be a particularly important time in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations,” said Stephen Jacobi, executive director of the NZUS Council.

“The 2013 Pacific Partnership Forum will foster the type of dialogue that can help move TPP to a successful completion.”

New Zealand and the United States are influential global voices for open markets, regional growth and stability, individual freedoms, and a sustainable environment.  The 2013 Forum will build on this legacy by focusing on Asia-Pacific issues.  The program will include dynamic keynote presentations, diverse panel discussions, valuable networking opportunities, executive-level exchanges, and a variety of social and cultural activities.

Exclusive sponsorship opportunities to host specific portions of the Forum are available, and the event is open to interested parties.  For more information, contact [email protected].

Businesses call for urgent action to conclude TPP in 2013

Posted on by
Reply

Business representatives from four economies – US, NZ, Canada and Australia – have met in Auckland to press for more urgency in concluding the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations currently underway.

“In September business representatives from across the TPP member economies urged governments to conclude an ambitious, comprehensive and high standard outcome in 2013,” says Cal Cohen, president of the Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT) speaking on behalf of the US Business Coalition for TPP.

“We are glad this call has been taken on board and we express our strong support for this goal.  It is now time for negotiators to tackle the more sensitive issues to ensure this deadline can be met.”

“TPP has the capacity to change the way business is done in the Asia Pacific region.  This is what is needed to grow economies and create jobs,” says Stephen Jacobi, executive director of the NZ US Council and NZ International Business Forum.

“We appreciate the task is complex but we urge negotiators meeting in Auckland this week to accelerate their efforts and narrow their differences so the benefits of TPP can be brought forward at a time of increasing economic difficulty.”

“Canada is joining the TPP negotiations for the first time here in Auckland and is determined to participate in a way that builds consensus for a strong outcome,” said Kathleen Sullivan, executive director of the Canadian Agri-food Trade Alliance (CAFTA).

“Our immediate priorities are addressing the proliferation of non-tariff barriers which impede trade and issues like rules of origin that can prevent trade occurring even when free trade agreements (FTAs) are put in place. There is a lot at stake for Canada in TPP and we are glad to be participating as one of eleven APEC economies.”

“Australia has a lot to gain from a successful outcome to TPP which can provide an opportunity to reduce the complexity associated with the noodle bowl of over-lapping and contradictory FTAs in the region,” said Bryan Clark, director, trade and international affairs, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).

“Simplification of the supply chain will translate into reduced business costs and increase the time in which products move around the region.  That can only advantage businesses and consumers and lead to better economic outcomes for all member economies.”

Asia Pacific business organisations have earlier reaffirmed their view that a successful TPP will be:

  • Comprehensive – with no product exclusions and with commercially meaningful and flexible rules of origin.
  •  High quality – with strong standards across all main areas, from transparency, investment and government procurement to intellectual property, e-commerce and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
  • Ambitious – with the elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers on trade in goods and services and investment no later than 2020, the deadline set for free and open trade and investment in the Bogor goals.
  • Innovative – with concrete new commitments on new generation and behind the border issues, including eliminating chokepoints in the operation of regional supply and value chains, fostering small and medium-sized business participation in expanding trade, facilitating regulatory coherence and promoting and protecting innovation.
  • Enforceable – with clear commitments, and strong and transparent state-to-state and investor-to-state dispute settlement mechanisms.
  • A living agreement – open to accession by other Asia-Pacific economies, provided these economies share TPP’s ambitious vision and can demonstrate their ability to accede to an agreement with the characteristics described above.

Business representatives from TPP member economies will join government negotiators and other representatives of civil society at a Stakeholder Forum in Auckland tomorrow (7 December).

Business as usual for exports to US, with TPP next focus

Posted on by
Reply

It’s business as usual for New Zealand meat exporters following the re-election of United States President Obama for another four year term, but it’s not time to relax.

Prime Minister John Key has already congratulated the President on his “hard fought victory” and re-election, tweeting last night that he looks forward to further developing the close and enduring relationship between the two countries.

“There will be many opportunities to enhance the relationship, which is built on shared values and a commitment to improve the prosperity and well-being of our people through initiatives such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).”

Two-way trade with the US is valued at over $8 billion and the US is a leading source of investment, innovation and business ideas, says the NZ US Council. It is actively engaged in co-ordinating business and government efforts towards concluding a comprehensive, high quality result to the TPP negotiations.

NZUS Council executive director Stephen Jacobi comments that now the election has been decided, it’s positive news for exporters that there will be some certainty over the next four years.

“It’s business as usual for the relationship.”

President Obama will be very energised over his second term he notes. However, that the President will have to work hard on bringing the Republicans with him.

“The TPP initiative is good, in that it is something that can unite both sides, which will have a positive impact on the negotiations.”

The President’s biggest challenge is the state of the US economy, currently facing a ‘fiscal cliff’, and his ability to avoid a complete gridlock between Senate with its Democrat majority and the primarily Republican House of Representatives.

“How he deals with that has implications for New Zealand meat exporters as it will impact on the exchange rate,” says Jacobi, adding that one of the current US solutions – printing money – is bringing the value of their dollar down but is forcing the Kiwi dollar up, making it difficult for New Zealand exporters to operate.

With the Republicans advocating for more farm subsidies, keeping an eye on progress in the US Farm Bill will be important for New Zealand meat exporters too.

The focus now is the next TPP round of talks which take place in Auckland 3-12 December with New Zealand in the chair and hundreds of negotiators from around the Asia-Pacific attending the meeting. It is fortunate that the chief US negotiator remains unchanged, with Barbara Weisel remaining in her position. However, it’s important to note everything won’t be finalised at that meeting. “It’s a continuing process but Auckland will set out how negotiations will roll out in 2013,” says Jacobi, adding that 2013 is expected to see finalisation of the agreement.

Beef will be on the agenda as Canada and Mexico join the table as full members for the first time. Jacobi says he will also be interested to see how other economies, such as Japan, react to the election news as it may speed up their entry to the trade agreement.

The concern for Jacobi is the anti-globalisation movement, which is expected to be active around the time of the talks. He calls for industry, companies and farmers to stand together to explain why it’s important for New Zealand to be in the trade negotiations.

“We need to add our voice to the multitude in support of the negotiations,” he says.

+++

The US election may bring little change to the Senate agriculture committee with the Democrats retaining control according to Food Business News, while retirements factor into the House of Representatives’ agriculture committee with the Republicans maintaining control there. The finance committees face a similar scenario, says Jacobi. It is likely, however, that there will be a new US trade adviser. Mike Froman, currently assistant to the President and deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs – and a former Harvard classmate of Obama’s – is hotly tipped for the job.

 

 

Kiwis keeping an open mind on TPP

Posted on by
Reply

The majority of Kiwis support the idea of a Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), new research has found.

Research commissioned by the NZUS council has found that 56.3 percent of New Zealanders surveyed support or strongly support the TPP, 13.4 percent oppose the negotiation, with 30.4 percent keeping an open mind.

“The research is an important contribution to the debate around free trade. It shows New Zealanders are preared to see where the TPP negotiation leads rather than give in to scare-mongering,” says NZUS Council executive director Stephen Jacobi.

The research found that just 60.5 percent believe New Zealand needs to do more to connect with global markets, with just 9.4 percent opposing such moves.

The next TPP negotiation round will take place in Auckland in December.

The research also found that a majority of Kiwis (64.4 percent) believe increased trade between new Zealand and the United States is a good idea. Only 12.1 percent are opposed to it.

“Freer trade will create more opportunities for exporters and more choice for consumers and ultimately more jobs for Kiwis. The TPP provides an opportunity to maximise these benefits TPP is a work in progress but it’s an important first step towards adopting a seamless economic space around the Asia-Pacific region,” says Jacobi.

The research was conducted by Buzz Research between 18-21 September 2012 with 1,018 respondents aged 18-64 in New Zealand. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1.

Asia-Pacific business organisations urge TPP completion

Posted on by
Reply

As the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting opens in Vladivostok, Russia, today business organisations from around the APEC region have once again joined together to urge participants in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to complete negotiations as soon as possible in 2013 and to hold to the ambitious aims set for the final agreement.

According to a joint statement, the Asia-Pacific business organisations from New Zealand, Chile, Canada, Peru, Singapore and the US, urge the negotiators to maintain the momentum in the negotiations to achieve the vision of TPP. “While substance will need to drive the negotiating agenda, we urge that all steps be taken to bring the negotiations to a conclusion in early 2013.”

Asia-Pacific business organisations have reaffirmed their view that a successful TPP will be comprehensive, high quality, ambitious “with the elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers on trade in goods and services and investment no later than 2020″, innovative, enforceable and a living agreement.

Amongst business leaders at APEC Vladivostok are Erica Crawford of Kim Crawford Wines, Malcolm Bailey of Fonterra and Ian McCrae, Orion Health. Members of the APEC Business Advisory Council also attending the talks are Tony Nowell of Valadenz, Wayne Boyd (Vulcan Steel Ltd), Maxine Simmons (NZBio) and Stephen Jacobi of the NZ-US Business Council who is an alternate member.

“TPP provides a potential pathway for making progress towards the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific,” says Jacobi. “TPP is a complex undertaking but the potential gains to growth and jobs are simply too big to be left on the table.”

 

Trading with Russia

Posted on by
Reply

Exporters trading with Russia will be focusing on Vladivostok as trade talks take place there next week.

A delegation of business people is participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Chief Executive Summit and related meetings in Vladivostock, Russia, during the week of 3 September, according to the NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF).

“The Vladivostock meeting takes place as Russia takes up its long-awaited and welcome entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and as further progress is made to build the foundations for future growth in the Asia-Pacific region,” says NZIBF executive director Stephen Jacobi.

“New Zealand has a major stake in the future economic success of the Economic APEC region which takes over 70 percent of our exports. Negotiations now underway amongst eleven APEC economies to complete the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) are aimed at eliminating trade barriers, reducing the cost and complexity of doing business and providing a pathway to a future Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP). New Zealand is also negotiating a free trade agreement with the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.”

Russia’s 2012 chairmanship in APEC is promoting the domestic economy’s organic integration into the system of economic ties in the Asia Pacific Region (APR) in the interests of modernisation- and innovation-driven economic development, primarily in Siberia and the Russian Far East.

The fourth and final meeting this year of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) will take place in Vladivostock 3-6 September. ABAC members will present their views and recommendations directly to APEC Economic Leaders, including Prime Minister John Key, on 8 September. They will be joined at the APEC CEO Summit 7-8 September by several New Zealand chief executives.

This year’s Summit – under the theme Addressing Challenges. Expanding Possibilities. – will explore how business can contribute to future prosperity in the region through trade liberalisation, safe food and water supply, infrastructure development, the fostering of innovation and new transportation routes.

In the year ending December 2011, Russia was 14th on the list of New Zealand’s top trading partners. The country imported $44 million (fob) worth of New Zealand sheepmeat and about $11 million worth of frozen New Zealand beef.

Canada joins TPP

Posted on by
Reply

Canada is also joining the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.

The move, announced by New Zealand Minister of Trade Tim Groser today and following the news that Mexico was to join the negotiations earlier this week,  “demonstrates how dynamic this consultation process is,” the Minister says.

“Our vision for the TPP has always been to create a high-quality and comprehensive trade agreement which over time will act as a platform for wider Asia-Pacific trade liberalisation and economic integration.”

It shows that progress is being made in building an open and inclusive agreement, says the NZUS Council.

“Canada’s decision to join the TPP negotiations following Mexico’s announcement  is further proof that TPP is open to new members who believe they can meet the high standards set by the agreement,” says NZUS Council executive director Stephen Jacobi.

“Canada is a major global economy and a long-standing friend of New Zealand.  A successful outcome to the TPP negotiations will allow the economic relationship between New Zealand and Canada to reach a new level”.

New Zealand exports to Canada in 2011 were worth $597.4 million and it was our 19th largest export market. The top exports were sheep meat, beef and wine.

Jacobi foresees tough negotiations ahead on market access for agricultural products given that Canada maintains tight restrictions on supply managed industries including dairy and poultry.

“The NZUS Council’s submission to the New Zealand Government last year made clear that we considered Canada’s supply management policies incompatible with the vision of TPP as a comprehensive, high quality and ambitious agreement.  These differences will now need to be resolved at the negotiating table”.

Jacobi noted that Japan was continuing to follow the TPP process closely.

“We look forward to Japan joining the negotiations once the Japanese Government is  confident it can meet the high ambition of TPP and consultations are complete,” said Mr Jacobi.

Like the process for Mexico, the next step with regard to Canada joining the negotiations would be for the nine current TPP participants to complete any applicable domestic legal procedures. Following this, Canada would formally join the negotiations as a new participant.

Mexico joins TPP

Posted on by
Reply

Meat exporters to the Americas will welcome the news announced by Minister of Trade, Tim Groser, that Mexico is joining the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, alongside current participants Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Viet Nam.

“We believe Mexico’s participation in the negotiations will contribute to the objective of creating a 21st century agreement that will spur economic growth and development, promote innovation, benefit our consumers, and support the creation and retention of jobs, high living standards and the reduction of poverty in our countries and the broader Asia-Pacific region,” the Minister says, adding the NZ is looking forward to working with Mexico to conclude a comprehensive and balanced package, taking into account the diversity of the levels of development.

Step towards free trade area

According to the NZ-US Council,  this is another step towards achieving precisely what was first envisioned – a free trade area of Asia and the Pacific.

“This is good news for businesses which need to operate more effectively and seamlessly in the region,” says NZUS Council executive director Stephen Jacobi.

“Mexico is a steadily growing market for our products, with enormous potential for New Zealand exporters. A successful outcome to the TPP negotiations will also allow New Zealand to leverage the potential in the education and research relationships we have with Mexico.”

Mexico’s entry will make New Zealand’s competitive position in Mexico the same as the NAFTA partners, USA and Canada.

New Zealand exports to the market in 2011 were worth $414.8 million and it was our 25th largest export market. Meat and dairy are the top New Zealand exports to Mexico, with dairy accounting for 62 percent.

Jacobi says that the NZUS Council is pleased to note Mexico is joining the TPP n the same terms as those already taking part in the negotiations. This means these economies share the aspiration for an ambitious and comprehenisve 21st century agreement.

“If the momentum started by Mexico leads to a Free Trade Area of Asia and the Pacific, we would see New Zealand lift its exports by 8.5 percent above 2025 baseline levels and welfare gains to New Zealand lift by 1.35 percent of GDP.

“We look forward to Japan and Canada joining the negotiations, once both economies are confident they can meet the high ambition of TPP and consultations are complete,” says Jacobi.

ACCORDING TO NZUSC: TPP is an existing trade agreement between Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore, which Australia, Malaysia, Peru, the US and Vietnam wish to join. Eleven rounds of negotiations have been held involving the nine partners. The economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) account for over 70 percent of New Zealand’s total merchandise trade. Trade with APEC economies has been growing at an average of 4.5 percent per annum over the last 20 years. The TPP could add around $2,.1 billion to the New Zealand economy by 2025, according to research undertaken by the East-West Center in Honolulu.