Gordon Campbell on our unreal optimism about the economic impact of coronavirus
At this week’s Chinese New Year celebrations, PM Jacinda Ardern was resolutely upbeat that business with China would soon bounce back to normal – better […]
International Trade
Gordon Campbell on chilling the warm fuzzies about the US/China trade deal
Hold the champagne, folks. This week’s China/US deal is more about a change in tone between the world’s two biggest economies – thank goodness they’re […]
Gordon Campbell on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal
While his new deal is flawed, British PM Boris Johnson has achieved the impossible by coming up with a formula that (a) significantly differs from […]
Gordon Campbell on the usual grumbling about subsidising the Lord of the Rings TV series
We seem to have won this production largely because of the mature film industry infrastructure that NZ has built on the back of those previously subsidized productions.
Gordon Campbell on Europe’s non-surrender to far right extremism
Yesterday’s European Parliament election results show that the feared gains by far right populism did not eventuate.
Gordon Campbell on why shipping is New Zealand’s big new trade problem
Brexit is not the only concern for New Zealand’s Shipping Trade.
Gordon Campbell on the EU’s battle with Washington, over Iran
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini used the occasion in Wellington to challenge the White House intensely, over Iran.
Gordon Campbell on tomorrow’s EU trade talks with NZ
One of the world’s most influential bureaucrats will launch the process of a trade pact between the EU and NZ.
Gordon Campbell on the media’s untruth-in-packaging problem with the Trump circus
After shredding America’s relationships with its traditional G-7 allies, US President Donald Trump is about to sit down to pursue a deal with North Korea
Is Winston Peters our best current defence against market extremism?
On trade and foreign ownership, Peters is talking sense…
TPP Or Not TPP
What every voter needs to know about the Trans Pacific Partnership, and our government’s continued support of it…. by William L. Jobson Trade policy is […]
Gordon Campbell on National’s Mickey Mouse policies on trade
According to Todd McClay the European Union says it wants to conclude a FTA with NZ by the end of 2019. That timetable sounds unbelievably optimistic.
Gordon Campbell on trade, Trump and Steve Bannon
As APEC leaders get together this weekend in Peru, they could be forgiven for looking back nostalgically at Barack Obama’s time in office and wondering […]
Gordon Campbell on tobacco politicking, and the TPP death watch
Has Act leader David Seymour got the easiest job in the world, or what?
Gordon Campbell on bank scandals and air crashes
Libor. It stands for the London Interbank Offered rate. Back in 2012, Libor became synonymous with a scandal involving the dodgy manipulation of how interest […]
Gordon Campbell on how class colours the reactions to the Panama Papers
Not many heroes so far in the Panama Papers saga, but any number of villains. Those villains happen to include: criminals laundering their ill gotten […]
Gordon Campbell on not crying foul, Argentina
So a couple of guys found to be criminally liable of environmental pollution in Argentina lodge an application with the Overseas Investment Office… in order […]
Gordon Campbell on Trump and the Madman Theory
Years ago, Richard Nixon explained to his chief adviser Bob Haldeman what has since become known as the “Madman Theory” of foreign policy. Basically, if […]
Gordon Campbell On Our Fearless PM's Foray Into China
Don’t mention the South China Sea dispute. Oh, but he will! Earlier this week, the image of dauntless Prime Minister John Key not backing down […]
Gordon Campbell on the political tokenism of the government’s response to the Panama Papers
Image by Grant Buist Prime Minister John Key could have dealt with the clamour for an independent inquiry into the Panama Papers scandal in a […]
Gordon Campbell on the (missing) US links to the Panama Papers, and Merle Haggard
Belatedly, US complicity in the global tax avoidance systems is now trickling out into daylight. To some, one of the suspicious aspects of the scandal […]
Gordon Campbell on living in denial about the Panama Papers
So now we know why New Zealand won all those awards for being the ‘easiest place to do business.’ Evidently, foreign firms that register in […]
Gordon Campbell on the Aussie banks, and patriotic death porn about the flag
If the New Zealand economy was a tennis player, it would be Maria Sharapova – a player reportedly reliant on artificial stimulants, and corporate endorsements. […]
Gordon Campbell on the security services review, and Bernie Sanders’ victory against the TPP
To no-one’s real surprise, the Cullen/Reddy review of the security services has recommended an extension of the powers of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), […]
Gordon Campbell on the sense of entitlement shared by Fonterra, Affco and Todd Barclay
Fonterra’s explanation for its behavior towards the small firms it engages – it has reportedly asked its suppliers to reduce their charges in order ‘to […]
Gordon Campbell on Pharmac’s unequal battle over the funding of Keytruda
Sad to say, but the Key government has never showed much stomach for saying ‘No’ to corporate lobbyists from the pharmaceutical industry or the film […]
Gordon Campbell on our underfunded Syrian refugee intake, and dairy industry carnage
Once again, our little show pony Prime Minister is prancing around the world offering to take in refugees – from Syria, from Nauru – while […]
Gordon Campbell on the Treaty/TPP overlap, and the Iowa backwash
Click for big version. The people who point out that we already have investor-state dispute settlement provisions in other trade deals and ‘so far so […]
Gordon Campbell on bribing the Saudis and Oscar racism
Does this sound familiar? In the mid 2000s, New Zealand wanted to pursue a humanitarian policy, on live sheep exports. This happened to offend a […]
Gordon Campbell on China, Oscar racism and Kate Tempest
China, China, China… Donald Trump is not the only one obsessed with the Middle Kingdom these days. For the past year or more, countries have […]