4. DIANNE YATES (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Trade
What reports, if any, has he received commenting on the outcome of the United States - New Zealand partnership dialogue held in Washington recently?
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Trade) Link to this
I have received a number of reports, all favourable. I think the mood of the participants at the dialogue was best summed up by the New Zealand Herald, which stated that the event was “an overwhelming positive and can only help to create renewed understandings which will ultimately benefit New Zealand business.” I think the dialogue did move the relationship forward, in a way that was really helped by the delegates from this country taking a “New Zealand Incorporated” approach.
I think there was strong high-level support from the American side, which did succeed in taking the relationship forward. In particular, I welcomed the strong support that was received from assistant secretary of State Chris Hill for the relationship, and the very strong comments that came from the president of the US Chamber of Commerce, Tom Donohue, who was very much in favour of a free-trade agreement. But most important, I think, was the ground-breaking article co-authored by Richard Armitage and Randy Shriver in the Asian Wall Street Journal. That came out very strongly in favour of a free-trade agreement and a closer defence and security relationship with New Zealand.
Hon Tau HenareTo what extent will the dialogue help to achieve a free-trade agreement and closer security cooperation?
I think it was a step in the right direction. In trade, it builds on other positive support that New Zealand has received, and in particular the very positive letter from Senators John McCain and John Sununu to the President in support of a free-trade agreement. The National Association of Manufacturers has also put New Zealand in the top five of the countries it wants a free-trade agreement with. However, it is true that there are time and resource constraints with the United States Trade Representative, and that means our negotiations have to be seen as a medium, as well as a short-term, objective. Briefly, on the security front, I think the fact that New Zealand works very closely with the United States on counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation—and that point was highlighted—also helped with the relationship between the partners at the partnership dialogue. I would like also to congratulate National members on their positive support for the Government’s position in that regard.