We’ll break US free trade barrier - Nats
NZPA | Tuesday, 11 September 2007
We’ll break US free trade barrier - Nats
National leader John Key today unveiled plans to negotiate a free trade agreement with the US, which the government is yet to succeed in doing since it came to power in 1999.
National will soon release a foreign policy paper with the key objective of preparing the ground for negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, Key said today.
The Government has been seeking FTA negotiations since it came to power in 1999, but it has not yet succeeded in getting on the list of potential partners.
Mr Key said in a speech to the United States/New Zealand Partnership Forum in Auckland today he appreciated the difficulties.
"I understand that the trade issue is now part of the political contest in the United States, and there is currently no negotiating authority in place under which such a negotiation might take place," he said.
"Nevertheless, it is very important for New Zealand to keep putting its case forward."
A top US official attending the forum yesterday backed an FTA with New Zealand.
"As we move forward, I do believe it is desirable to achieve in future an FTA," Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill told reporters.
"But at this point I can’t tell you when precisely."
Mr Key said he thought the way forward was to first work to improve the relationship on a "comprehensive basis".
However, he again confirmed that a National-led government would not change New Zealand’s nuclear-free legislation.
"Independence on nuclear matters has become hard-wired into the New Zealand DNA," he said.
"It is profoundly symbolic, and national symbols can be difficult for other countries to comprehend. But it is part of our collective psyche."
Mr Key listed these areas which he said demonstrated "an extraordinary alignment of interests" between the US and New Zealand:
– Climate change. He said a National-led government would want to work closely with the US, despite differences over the Kyoto Protocol. "Post-Kyoto, we must develop a multilateral climate change agreement that has a far higher chance of attracting all the major greenhouse gas-emitting countries into a collective international response."
– International terrorism. Both countries had a common purpose in fighting "the common scourge" and that purpose would not change in the years ahead.
– International trade. Mr Key said the World Trade Organisation would remain at the centre of the international trade agenda, with the US and New Zealand maintaining "the closest partnership" to pursue its objective.
– The Pacific. He said New Zealand was in a unique position to take a leadership role and "some new thinking" was going to be needed to help troubled states. China and Taiwan were new players who could play a constructive role "but there are aspects of `chequebook diplomacy’ that do need to be addressed."
