US trade deal still bubbling away
Dominion Post, Wellington
US trade deal still bubbling away
9 April 2008
A free trade deal with the United States remains elusive in the wake of New Zealand’s deal with China.
Though the US reiterated yesterday that there had been progress, looming presidential elections mean further progress could be a year or more away.
A free trade deal with the US has been New Zealand’s main trade objective for much of the past decade.
The US has not considered it a priority, however. US embassy charge d’affaires David Keegan rejected suggestions yesterday that China’s willingness to sign a deal should be compared unfavourably against the US.
"I don’t think it’s an issue of it being beyond the will of the US.
"I think the US has cooperated with New Zealand on a wide range of issues over the past several years, an increasing range of issues."
