NO IDEA ABOUT TPP PLAN B
Evidence from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed the Government still has no idea if the TPP without the United States would have significant economic benefits for Australia.
While the Prime Minister and Trade Minister have repeatedly spoken about the benefits of the TPP without the United States, the Department admitted they have not conducted any modelling of the agreement without the United States nor have they been instructed by the Government to do so.
This means the Government has no idea if the TPP without the United States would have a positive benefit for Australian jobs.
The Government cannot explain what effect the agreement would have on our trade balance.
The Government’s idea of a TPP without the US has also been shut down by foreign leaders with the Department confirming no country had communicated they wished to move ahead with the current agreement without the United States.
The Prime Minister’s recent claims of China or Indonesia replacing the United States were also revealed to be baseless with the Department having conducted no modelling of these options.
Given this Trade Minister has signed zero new free trade agreements, it’s time he stopped talking and started acting.
FRIDAY 3 MARCH 2017
