12 Pacific Rim countries sign free-trade deal in New Zealand

AFP/AP

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(AFP/AP)The US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), one of the biggest trade deals in history, was signed in New Zealand on Thursday (Feb 4) by all 12 member nations amid loud protests.

While New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and US Trade Representative Mike Froman led the ceremony at Auckland's Sky City Convention Centre, protesters blocked roads outside.

The ambitious pact aims to break down trade and investment barriers between countries comprising about 40 per cent of the global economy.

"Today is a significant day, not only for New Zealand but for the other 11 countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership," Key said.

In the United States, the agreement has been at the center of President Barack Obama's trade agenda, but while it is supported by business groups and many Republicans, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not yet backed it and has suggested Congress shouldn't vote to ratify it until after the November elections.

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said Thursday he remained confident that U.S. lawmakers would ultimately approve it.

Obama immediately hailed the signing, saying the TPP would give the United States an advantage over other leading economies, namely China.

"TPP allows America - and not countries like China - to write the rules of the road in the 21st century, which is especially important in a region as dynamic as the Asia-Pacific," Mr Obama said in a statement from Washington.

However, protesters argue it will cost jobs and impact on sovereignty in Asia-Pacific states.

Although the signing marks the end of the negotiating process, the member countries still have two years to get the deal approved at home before it takes effect.

"We will encourage all countries to complete their domestic ratification processes as quickly as possible," Key said. "TPP will provide much better access for goods and services to more than 800 million people across the TPP countries, which make up 36 per cent of global GDP."

The agreement was signed by Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.

Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) Lim Hng Kiang, who was at the signing ceremony, hailed the agreement as an "important milestone for regional trade liberalisation".

"The TPP signatories comprise nearly 40 percent of world trade, and account for over 30 percent of Singapore’s total trade. The new and updated trade rules under the TPP will assure Singapore investors and businesses of a more open, predictable and transparent regional marketplace," Lim said in a statement.

"We look forward to the TPP’s ratification as soon as possible, so that our businesses can benefit from increased trade and investment opportunities.”

Key said other countries have already signalled an interest in joining TPP. "And this could lead to even greater regional economic integration. A more prosperous and therefore secure region, is in all of our interests," he added.

Froman warned that any delay in endorsing the deal would come at a cost.

"After five years of negotiation, signing the TPP is an important milestone in our efforts to set high-standard rules of the road in the Asia-Pacific region and more generally, and to deliver an agreement that will benefit American workers, farmers and businesses," he said.

Claiming the deal stands to add US$100 billion (S$141 billion) a year to US economic growth, Froman added: "There are costs to delay, real economic costs."

Groups opposed to the TPP have expressed concern about the secrecy in which the negotiations were conducted, the potential erosion of a country's sovereignty and say it is weighted in the United States' favour.

Amid speculation that members of the US Congress will not want to risk alienating voters by approving it ahead of the November national elections, Obama on Tuesday discussed ratification with Republican leaders who said they still had problems with the complex deal.

New Zealand is acting as the TPP depositary, taking responsibility for administrative functions.