Across the Ditch: Weather + FX + Petrol / litre + Headlines + Why Is Au + NZ Soliciting China’s Entry into the TPP

Across the Ditch: Australian radio FiveAA’s Peter Godfrey and EveningReport.nz’s Selwyn Manning deliver their weekly bulletin. This Week: Weather + Petrol Prices + FX + Headlines Roundup + Indepth Item: Why are Australia and New Zealand soliciting China’s entry into the Trans Pacific Partnership? PLUS: 10 year-old surfer escapes Jaws! Weather + FX + Petrol / litre + Headlines IN DEPTH – ITEM ONE There are signs that considerable effort is occurring behind the public’s gaze to resurrect the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement after US President Donald Trump formally withdrew the USA from the multilateral agreement this week. Trump added that his administration will advance a preference for bilateral free trade agreements. The comment has rekindled hope within NZ Government circles that a US-Kiwi FTA may yet come to pass. But the day before Malcolm Turnbull commented that the Trans Pacific Partnership may be extended to invite China into the pact, New Zealand’s new Prime Minister Bill English tested the waters suggesting the TPPA may be given some CPR. The question remains, will the Chinese play ball after being ignored by the two US leaning APAC nations (Australia and New Zealand) that both have bilateral FTAs with China and wanted a slice of the USA economic pie. The TPP nations are desperate sellers, and China is in the box seat. It seems Australia’s DFAT and New Zealand’s MFAT have a massive challenge on their hands. ITEM TWO And this Aussie news story is getting some attention over this side of the ditch: NZHerald.co.nz It’s about the ten year old NSW surfer who unknowingly surfed close to the jaws of a Great White. It’s a reminder to us all to be really vigilant while out on the water this summer. Any shark tales Peter?]]>