Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) clauses in trade agreements can entitle foreign corporate investors to sue participating governments for introducing policies that compromise their anticipated profits.

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The Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement (TPPA), if signed, may constrain public policy steps in NZ to address climate change (e.g. regulation of the fossil fuel and energy sectors). 

A coalition of health organisations including OraTaiao voiced these concerns in an article published on 28 October 2014 in NZ Doctor Online, entitled 'The impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on health: Why an independent, comprehensive health impact assessment is crucial prior to signing' (reported here). This article was supported by:

The NZ Nurses Organisation (NZNO)
College of Nurses Aotearoa NZ
Smokefree Coalition
Medical Students for Global Awareness
Alcohol Healthwatch
Alcohol Action NZ
NZ College of Midwives
New Zealand Medical Students' Association
Auckland University Medical Students' Association

OraTaiao media release here.

OraTaiao Opinion Editorials in the NZ Herald (here and here), discussing the risk that trade agreements pose to strong climate action.