Peck Mark: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peck Mark: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:618;Page:13916] 
3.  
MARK PECK (Labour—Invercargill) 
 to the  
Minister for Trade Negotiations 
: What progress is being made on trade negotiations with China and Thailand? 
Hon JIM SUTTON (Minister for Trade Negotiations) 
: 
 Significant progress is being made. Last week formal negotiations started with Thai officials and we anticipate that those negotiations could be completed by the end of the year. Yesterday the public consultation process on a trade deal with China began and I hope the feasibility study on that proposed agreement can also be completed by the end of this year. 
Mark Peck 
: Would the Minister tell the House whether those are the only trade liberalisation prospects we have? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: Plan A for this Government has always been the World Trade Organization multilateral negotiations which hold the most potential for us. But we do have plan B a network of comprehensive regional and bilateral agreements of which agreements with China and Thailand are just two. Negotiations on the Pacific Three Closer Economic Partnership with Chile and Singapore will resume in August and a variety of others are also under active investigation. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Has the Minister seen the testimony of Mr Harry Wu a survivor of the Chinese Laogaiprison labour camps in which 6.8 million people are interred mostly for political or religious non-conformity and is he aware that those camps make 200 Chinese export products including most of China’s export rubber chemicals one-third of its tea and much of its tools steel products and cotton; and how can New Zealand recognise China as a market economy in that situation? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: No I have not seen the programme the member alludes to but the Government has clear views on international standards on labour and human rights. In negotiating trade agreements we aim for outcomes that promote decent work and are compatible with International Labour Organization principles. Human rights are also a priority for the Government. Our policy is that trade and economic growth should help to facilitate progress in those areas. 
Peter Brown 
: Noting that answer is the Minister in a position to guarantee to this House that any trade deal with China and Thailand will not impact adversely on New Zealand employment prospects? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: To the contrary these negotiations are intended to strengthen the New Zealand economy and create more jobs and better paid jobs for New Zealanders. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: At which sectors of the economy and wider society is the public consultation process aimed what matters does the Minister expect to be raised during that process and what action will the Government take on those matters in any negotiations with China towards a free-trade agreement? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The public will raise what it wishes to raise and the Government will address all those concerns. But let me say that I would be surprised if there were not people in contact with us—as there already have been particularly in the apparel sector—who are concerned about their industries’ ability to compete effectively against China. My answer to that is that the apparel industry is already substantially exposed to international competition in New Zealand and in recent years has been increasing in both employment and the quality of the jobs on offer. I believe that even in the apparel industry the New Zealand industry will be able to increase its sales to China and other Asian markets of those niche products in which we can create competitive advantage. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: What measures is he proposing should be written into the free-trade agreement with China to improve its human rights behaviour and how does he specifically propose to ensure that none of the 200 products made by prison labour camps comes into New Zealand so that in economic terms we are not supporting that practice? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: New Zealand adheres to the relevant ILO principles and bindings and we will continue to support those principles and objectives at every opportunity.