That will make New Zealand the first of the 12 countries in the trade agreement to pass implementing legislation. However, withdrawing the US from the trade agreement is on Trump's plan for his first 100 days in office, along with seeking to renegotiate or withdraw from Nafta. Speaking in Parliament, Trade Minister Todd McClay congratulated Trump but said it was important for New Zealand to pass the legislation to show leadership on the issue. The trade agreement between 12 Pacific Rim countries took years to negotiate and the New Zealand Government had hoped it would deliver the long sought-after trade agreement with the United States. The countries in the agreement are New Zealand, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 10, 2016 06:34 UTC