Todd McClay: Trade Minister talks Winston Peters' latest grips with India FTA
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What are the latest developments in the India free trade deal?
India free trade deal up to the parliamentary debate stage. We're into another round of New Zealand First angst. Of course, it's passed its first reading yesterday. Todd McClay is the trade minister. He's back with us this morning. Mike, good morning. So Winston Peters late. I mean, has he just gone and flipped? So he was against it because there were too many Indians. Now there aren't enough Indians. Is he playing games with you, Todd?
Well, that's what it feels like, doesn't it, Mike? I mean, all of this is well rehearsed and it's in the public and we've talked it through day after day, week after week, month after month before I went to India for the signing. I get that New Zealand first as opposed to a lot of trade deals, but it is becoming a bit confusing and it feels like it's time to move on now. This is a deal that is in the best interest of New Zealand.
How does Todd McClay respond to Winston Peters' accusations?
It was very carefully negotiated. Both sides know exactly what they've committed to and what they haven't committed to. And we've got it in Parliament and we're going to put it in law and get it in place so we can have jobs and higher incomes.
Does this matter, given the vote for the first reading was 93-29? I mean, it's done, isn't it? It's over.
Yeah, that's right. Labour have given their support. They went through it all in great, great detail. You remember I had so many meetings with them. I virtually met with them more than I did the Indian negotiators. You know, it's been before the committee, the parliamentary committee in public has gone through in great detail. We had the vote yesterday. So I understand that New Zealand First has always found trade agreements difficult. They don't like migration.
What are the implications of the India trade deal for New Zealand?
But there is no migration in this. It is a small number of workers that we need in our economy that have to go home after three years. India knows that we negotiated. It is time for New Zealand First to move on. Otherwise, people will think they're just screaming and yelling election year to try and get votes.
Exactly. He claims, Peter, that officials have pointed out such changes that he's upset about are open to legal challenge. Is he correct on that? And if he is, are you worried?
Well, I'm not worried at all because I was there in the negotiation.
Is there a legal challenge regarding the immigration settings?
I've been up to India eight times. We know each other very, very well. I mean, I did see he said yesterday that there was some document. He was copied in on it. It's just a normal cabinet process.
What is Todd McClay's perspective on New Zealand First's stance?
Whenever you have a trade agreement, some things you put in law. So the bill before Parliament at the moment will reduce the tariff rates and also set up the quotas for the honey and kiwi, fruit and apples we get today. to send them so we can manage it well all the other stuff is just very normally it's rig it's regulation so this is a normal process that we do with all trade agreement so officials always will talk about various things in there and so on but there is nothing secret here there's nothing hidden there will be no surprises other than new zealand first is again against the trade agreement all right appreciate it have a good weekend trade minister todd mcclay mike watching parliament tv this week i'm put off by winston peters now i've been very impressed with him as foreign minister
but lately finding him random and all over the place.
I no longer trust him.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What are the latest developments in the India free trade deal?
0:00–0:40
2
How does Todd McClay respond to Winston Peters' accusations?
0:40–1:19
3
What are the implications of the India trade deal for New Zealand?
1:19–1:47
4
Is there a legal challenge regarding the immigration settings?
1:47–1:58
5
What is Todd McClay's perspective on New Zealand First's stance?
1:58–2:48
Speakers
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