Andrew Robb deflects attack on trade talks

TRADE Minister Andrew Robb insists the federal government will not jeopardise Australia’s sovereignty in any free trade deal.

TRADE Minister Andrew Robb insists the government will not jeopardise Australia’s sovereignty in any free trade deal with Pacific nations, including the US and Japan, dismissing claims foreign corporations could win significantly enhanced legal rights.

Critics of a proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership covering 40 per cent of world GDP point to leaked negotiation drafts, alleging companies will be able to sue governments that take action harmful to their business interests.

Concluding three days as host of TPP talks in Sydney, Mr Robb said critics of the negotiations ­affecting 12 nations were “scaremongers”.

He said Australia had progressively engaged with “investor state dispute settlement”, or ISDS, arrangements over 30 years that allowed foreign investors in 28 countries to sue the government.

“The sun is still coming up every morning,” he said.

“I think a lot of the statements that have certainly been made in Australia amount to deliberate scaremongering ... by those who fundamentally have an anti-trade agenda.

“That is their prerogative to have an anti-trade agenda but it is frustrating at times that they misrepresent to say this ISDS mechanism has just arrived and is some new phenomena.”

Mr Robb said the ISDS had a fairly established form, and negotiations were not looking to step outside it.

US President Barack Obama’s chief trade negotiator, Michael Froman, said no one wanted the TPP to prevent the ability of governments to regulate in the public interest.

Consumer groups, unions and the Greens claim Australia could become party to a TPP deal giving foreign investors stronger rights to sue the government for commercial harm suffered because of regulations affecting mining practices, toxic waste, pesticides and tobacco sales.

After negotiations stretching back to 2008, Mr Robb said he was optimistic that the “finishing line” was in sight.

He hopes for a deal next year.

Akira Amari, Japan’s Minister of State for International Trade and Industry, was cautious.

He said there were “quite a few remaining issues” to be settled.