Garth George wrote this in yesterday's NZ Herald:
And, most sinister of all, it is greed that has enticed this country to seek a free trade agreement with China, a move that will eventually have dreadful consequences for each and every one of us.
Garth, can you please explain what these dreadful consequences for everyone of us are going to be?
Also we disagree over the suggestion that New Zealand was motivated by greed. As we recall it four years ago New Zealand was confronted with the news that Australia and China were considering starting FTA negotiations. Australia had just negotiated an FTA with the US and New Zealand was facing the prospect of losing market share in areas such as beef in the US, we didn't want the same thing to happen in China. Chile likewise had announced that it was going to negotiate an FTA with China. Chile's FTA with Korea had just destroyed our wine and kiwifruit exports to that country. Was the New Zealand Government motivated by greed? No. By a need to act responsibly in an increasingly competitive world. Starting the FTA negotiation was a sensible and responsible policy response, and the fact that we have now leaped ahead of Australia will mean that for a couple of years, New Zealand will enjoy beneficial market access to this important market. It is a tough world out there. Our exporters need all the help they can get.
We are not known for being strong supporters of everything this Government does, but we must stress the China FTA is a very good thing for New Zealand and that it a major achievement for the Government. Criticism of the type made yesterday by Garth George needs careful scrutiny. We believe that it is unfair. Indeed it is plain wrong.
