Key talks up close US relationship and hopes for trade
The United States and New Zealand's relationship is in the best shape in years, Prime Minister John Key said at the start of a partnership forum between the two countries.
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Budget 25
The United States and New Zealand's relationship is in the best shape in years, Prime Minister John Key said at the start of a partnership forum between the two countries.
He urged the two countries to use that relationship to further trade.
The forum is an important gathering of New Zealand and United States government, business and community leaders.
The US 47-member delegation includes Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell, nine congressmen and representatives from corporates including Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Time Warner.
New Zealand's delegation of 63 includes senior ministers, Labour Party leader Phil Goff, government officials and business leaders.
"The US-New Zealand relationship is in the best shape it has been in for a long time," Mr Key said in speech notes.
That relationship was highlighted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit last year when the countries signed the Wellington Declaration and policy makers were in regular contact.
"New Zealand strongly values its close and open working relationship with the US," he said.
Mr Key reminded the US delegation of New Zealand's commitments in Afghanistan and how it was working with the US in the Pacific on security.
He urged for progress on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.
Two way trade between the US and New Zealand was more than $7.5 billion last year.
"TPP will have a significant impact on the way business is done in our region. It will support greater integration and provide a platform for economic delivery and future growth," he said.
"This trade deal is crucial for New Zealand's future because the US is such an important trading partner for us."
He said trade negotiations required difficult decisions.
"When facing such challenges it is important that we all remind ourselves of the overall collective benefits of getting TPP right, of which there are many."
The original and still existing free trade agreement, known as the P4, is between Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. It came into force in 2006.
Five countries -- Australia, Malaysia, Peru, the United States and Vietnam -- are negotiating to join it.
If the TPP succeeds, New Zealand will achieve within it the free trade agreement with the US which it has been seeking for more than a decade.
The forum closes tomorrow evening.
NZPA
Mon, 21 Feb 2011
Mon, 21 Feb 2011
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Key talks up close US relationship and hopes for trade
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