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Mackenzie spoke at the Asia Society in New York last night and said the US benefitted from free trade.
“Let’s hope these benefits don’t fall victim to short-term populism that doesn’t always consider long-term benefits,” he said.
“We also know that there is more to unlock from free trade and we know that it is up to nations to accept their responsibility required for further change.”
Mackenzie said the world was in the early stages of the Asian Century, with China’s economy to continue to develop at a pace that would make the rest of the world envious.
He said trade had already helped lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.
“Trade has returned China to its rightful place as a player on the world stage and there is further to go. Trade will do the same for Indonesia and India,” Mackenzie said.
“We need more free trade champions – especially developing nations. And we need to do this through initiatives such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (or TPP).
“The TPP promotes transparency, sets common standards, stimulates innovation and reduces commercial tensions between nations.
“While China is not currently a party to the TPP, I would advocate for their inclusion in future iterations.”
Mackenzie urged the US to stay true to the principles of progress and support free trade initiatives.
“If both the US and China are connected through this partnership, the world will be drawn together and stabilised. And the TPP is an enormous opportunity for American enterprise and American workers,” he said.
“Now is the time for the US to lean in to Asia, rather than lean away.
“Harmonisation of trade is the cornerstone of a world order that underpins growth, prosperity, opportunity and fairness for all.
“And it is in the interests of the global economy for East and West – led by the US and China – to achieve a social economic and geopolitical balance.”
Mackenzie’s comments come during the US election campaign.
Both Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton oppose the TPP.
