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Category: Government and Politics / Federal Government / International Aid and Trade / Foreign Affairs / World Politics / Bill Shorten / Turnbull, Malcolm

Bill Shorten 'weak' for giving up on TPP, Trade Minister says

Tuesday, 17 Jan 2017 07:08:01 | Stephanie Anderson

Steve Ciobo (left) says Bill Shorten is "weak in the face of the smallest obstacles". (AAP/AAP: Lukas Coch)

Trade Minister Steve Ciobo is insisting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) could still gain the support of the United States, calling the Opposition Leader "weak" for talking down the trade deal.

US President-elect Donald Trump has said he will use his first day in office to pull out of the deal, which he has previously described as "a rape of our country".

Labor leader Bill Shorten yesterday said the deal was dead, but Mr Ciobo said the 12-nation agreement could be resurrected.

He told the ABC Australia needed to give the US time to work through the process.

"We're only 10 months into a 24-month process and things can change," he said.

"The US system, like the Australian system and other democracies around the world, has a number of different voices in it.

"Now I don't dispute that President-elect Trump has made comments about the TPP but by the same token, that's simply not a reason to give up the ghost and to walk away as Bill Shorten's doing."

Mr Ciobo went on to cite senior Republican leaders' support for deal, adding that Mr Shorten was "weak in the face of the smallest obstacles".

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull discussed the deal with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe over the weekend, with both committed to pursuing the deal.

Fact file: The Trans-Pacific Partnership

It's been referred to as 'the dodgiest deal you've never heard of' and now, Fact Check answers your questions on the TPP.

Mr Ciobo said while the Government would prefer all 12 countries to move forward with the deal, other options were being explored.

"If in 24 months' time, the United States still maintains the position that they do not want to be part of the TPP, there are other options that can be pursued," he said.

Mr Ciobo's Opposition counterpart Jason Clare said Mr Turnbull was "deluded" if he believed he could get President-elect Trump to change his mind.

Speaking to the ABC this morning, Mr Clare refused to say whether Labor would vote for the legislation to enable the deal.

"Passing this legislation won't ratify the TPP, won't make the TPP come into effect," he said.

"The only way to do that is if Donald Trump changes his mind … [and] there is no chance on earth that Donald Trump is going to change his mind here."

The other countries involved with the deal are Canada, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Peru, Mexico, Chile and New Zealand.

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