Skip to Content »

FTAs inevitable for loan-dependent NZ, but expect one way enforcement

  • May 20th, 2013

I've just listened to Nathan Guy talking down concern about Chinese blocking of meat imports on Radio LIve Drive, before Andrew Patterson interviewed me on the topic.

My firm has paid particular attention recently to the way FTAs (Free Trade Agreements) can effectively over-ride Parliamentary sovereignty (our legal self determination).

I've acted for meat industry clients since 1980 and still do. I'm not sure how much they know of what is actually at issue. It is in the interests of all to keep this from blowing up, so neither side makes public claims or explanations that make it more embarassing to settle eventually. If the Chinese government, or some elements in it are just  telling us who holds the whip hand, no one is admitting it.

The explanation could be that simple. And because we have allowed ourselves to become dependent on their market (and, directly or indirectly their loans to the West) we'll just have to suck it up.

It is  a reminder that we should not be naïve signing agreements with the Chinese (or the Indonesians, or any number of other countries).

We will do what we say we’ll do in international agreements, because we believe in the rule of law, and doing what we’ve promised to do, mostly. I suppose we should recall John Key intimating  that it didn't matter that we'd signed up to the daft and dangerous Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People, because it would not mean anything. Michael Cullen had the wisdom to refuse to sign up to it.

We're also keenly aware that as a small country we have a strong interest in large countries adhering to rules, and not simply acting on ‘might is right’. More significantly for our long term, we’ll adhere to our agreements because once we’ve signed up, however stupidly, they have the clout to force us to do what we’ve signed up to, even if  it is then against our interests, and even if we’ve come to realise that it could continue to go mostly one way.

Many of the countries we sign deals with think promises and contracts are for complying with for so long as it works for them, and there is no shame in many countries in dorking a foreigner.

So New Zealanders are right to be wary of the deals we've been stitched into by Helen Clark and her predecessors, and the Key government’s eagerness to stitch us into more.

But we should not blame these leaders. At the bottom of all this is our weakness. This kind of thing either does not happen to Singapore or Switzerland or other strong small countries, or if it does they can wear it more easily.

Our leaders are given little choice about signing up. Our core problem is that the floating voters in our democracy keep electing people who promise to let them keep spending more than we earn, and not to make any hard choices to end living off borrowing.

So we’ll be bullied more and more by other countries because they can.

That could be turned around. But it will not while we spend most time arguing about fairness and who gets what, and boasting to ourselves about our special ingenuity and special capacities and a committment to " excellence". We are no longer valuably outstanding on any of those measures. Our creditors will be much more aware of continued pandering to personal irresponsibility and laziness and excuses for crime and non-performance.

 

Comments

Gravatar
  • Bill Foster
  • May 23rd, 2013
  • 2:43 pm

Your posting reminded me of the following quote from the 18th century Historian David Hume’s “The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol 1”; – a view which, if a little severe, still contains much wisdom.

“That neglect, almost total, of truth and justice, which sovereign states discover in their transactions with each other, is an evil universal and inveterate; is one great source of the misery to which the human race is continually exposed; and it may be doubted whether, in many instances, it be found in the end to contribute to the interests of those princes themselves, who thus sacrifice their integrity to their politics.”

Gravatar

yes I think we are being sorted out, after all the NZ government has ratified the meat, at th highest levels but the yellow will not say yes.
Well all this leads back to reality.
do we really need to grovel
I say no.
Ther are other countries
China is an abuser of people

NZ Nat Govt 2014 41 %
NZ First 08 %
LaBPOUR 37%
GREEN 10%
party over suck here

Gravatar
  • Colleen
  • May 26th, 2013
  • 9:00 pm

I agree with your comments but think it is strange that you focus on China without mentioning the huge concern we should have about the TPP deal that the current government is racing us towards.

[…] is entirely wrong about the meat import delays in China. The only person who has come slightly close to the truth is Stephen Franks. This is because China is strong, but New Zealand is inept. Our officials project how they wish the […]

Gravatar

Nathan Guy was utterly inept as immigration Minister so they promoted him

Gravatar
  • Lee Chang
  • September 15th, 2013
  • 12:29 am

Greetings to You,

Getting a legitimate loan have always been a huge problem To clients who have financial needs. The issue of credit and collateral are something that clients are always worried about when seeking a loan from a legitimate lender. But LEE CHANG LOAN COMPANY. has made that difference in the lending industry. LEE CHANG LOAN COMPANY.. has been accredited by the lender’s council to give out loans to local and international clients at 3% rate . We have been given the privilege to meet your financial needs. The issue of credit shouldn’t stop you from getting the loan that you need.

Our Services Include the Following:-
*Investors Loans
*Debt Consolidation
*Second Mortgage
*Business Loans
*Personal Loans
*International Loans

No social security and no credit check, 100% Guarantee. All you have to do is let us know exactly what you want and we will surely make your dream come true. LEE CHANG LOAN COMPANY. says YES when your banks say NO. Lastly, we fund small scale loan firm, intermediaries, small scale financial institutions for we have unlimited capital. For further details to go about procuring a loan from: Kindly respond immediately to this email: leechangloancompany.ch@gmail.com

Gravatar
  • Juliet Quin
  • November 18th, 2013
  • 9:42 pm

My names are Juliet Quin.I am a single parents.I needed an urgent loan for

Business and clearing of debts.I met a reverend who directed me to Mr.James

Chris.

JAMES CHRIS LOAN who granted me $45,000 USD without stress.Since then I have

Decided to publish their genuineness all over the internet for those who

Require loan to see and to avoid being scammed as there are a lot of

Scammer’s out there. I have been scammed before until I met Mr.

James Chris my story changed.

You can contact them on E-mail:jameschrisloan@yahoo.com

TELL THEM THAT I Juliet Quin from Canada REFER YOU TO THEM THAT THEY GAVE ME A

LOAN

SOMETIME AGO.

I bet you that you won’t regret it!

Gravatar
  • Cyrus capital funds
  • January 15th, 2014
  • 1:58 am

Do you need a fast and easy loan at an affordable interest rate of 3%? contact us today. We offer both personal and business loan to any interested individual or company who will be able to pay back the loan when due for repayment. We give out loan from the range of $2,000 to $1,000,000. To apply email us back with this. Email: cyruscapital_funds@yahoo.com

Gravatar
  • HELEN PETER
  • May 8th, 2014
  • 2:58 am

Hello,

I live in the US and i really have never seen goodness shown to me this
much in my life as i am a struggling mum with three kids and i have been going
through really rough times in my life and my name is Helen
Peters and in all this hard times, a worse incident occured in my life as i
lost my job which was my only means of survival and things became really bad as
i had bills to pay and my last son suffered a knee injury incurred when he fell
from a tree house and the doctors informed me that he needed a surgical
operation for his knee so he could walk again and at this point, life was
useless to me as i have no family and no one to run to and each night, i will
sit down and cry till the break of dun until one day, i read an advert on yahoo
answers of man that stated that he could help people in my shoes with loans and
in my desperate situation, i had no choice but i had to try and so shocking and
suprising, it was like an impossibility becoming a reality, i got a loan of
$75,000 USD even with my bad credit within 48 hours and my sons surgery was done
and thank GOD it was successful and now, i am okay and living in comfort with my
kids and i said to my self, i have never ever seen this kind of wonder in life
and i decided i will tell it to the whole wild world and i need every one to
thank GOD for Mr Patrick Harvey, the man GOD used to rescue me and my family
even when all hope had been lost and gone and i will say to every one, no matter
how dark and sinful the world is today, there are still GOD fearing and reliable
people on earth and if you are in my former situation or require a loan
legitimately, i will advice you contact this loan lender and you can reach him
via patrickharvey12@yahoo.com and i want you all to pray for this man for me.

Gravatar

Do you need a loan??? If yes feel free to send us a mail on larrypetersonloancompany@mail.com we can help

Gravatar
  • Koh Lian Fong
  • August 7th, 2014
  • 12:43 pm

My Brothers and Sister of Asia country, I am Miss Koh Lian Fong from Singapore; i was in need of loan some month ago. i needed a loan to open my restaurant and bar, when one of my long time business partner introduce me to the this good and trustful loan lender Mr.ZHANG that help me out with a loan, and is interest rate is very low , thank God today. I am now a successful business woman, and I became useful. In the life of others, I now hold a restaurant and bar. And about 22 workers, thank GOD for my life I am leaving well today a happy mother with three kids, thanks to you Mr.HZANG Now I can take care of my lovely family, i can now pay my bill. I am now the bread winner of my family. If you are look for a trustful and reliable loan leader. You can Email him via,(ZHANGLOANCOMPANY@GMAIL.COM Pls tell him Miss Koh Lian Fong, form Singapore introduce you to him. THANKS

Gravatar
  • Angela Spencer
  • November 18th, 2014
  • 8:22 pm

We are Private International Money Lender’s. We offer loan at a very low rate of 3%. if interested Kindly contact us Via Email: globalfinancialloans92@gmail.com for more information.

Regards,
Angela Spencer

Gravatar
  • Carlos Stev
  • December 8th, 2014
  • 6:21 pm

Good-day,

I’m Mr. Carlos Stev. A reputable, legitimate & accredited lender. We give out loan of all kinds in a very fast and easy way, Personal Loan, Car Loan, Home Loan, Student Loan, Business Loan, Inventor loan, Debt Consolidation. etc

Get approved for a business or personal loans today and get funds within same week of application. These personal loans can be approved regardless of your credit and there are lots of happy customers to back up this claim. But you won’t only get the personal loan you need; you will get the cheapest one. This is our promise: We guarantee the lowest rate for all loans with free collateral benefits.

We strive to leave a positive lasting impression by exceeding the expectations of my customers in everything I do. Our goal is to treat you with dignity and respect while providing the highest quality service in a timely manner.

No social security Number required and no credit check required, 100% Guaranteed.

So email: carlos_stev@yahoo.co.uk today to apply for a LOAN.

Leave your comments:

* Required fields. Your e-mail address will not be published on this site

You can use the following HTML tags:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>