Production engineers and manufacturers assessing their own position in the wider TPPA picture should devote special attention to the term “intellectual property.” This means patents.

New Zealand production engineers as soon as the negotiation dust settles should consult their North American agents for hard news on tariff, clearance, and preference shifts on machinery imports including machinery re-builds.

Machinery and equipment rebuilding and reconditioning opportunities will now open up for New Zealand engineers following approval of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement.