New Zealand's relationship with the United States maintained a solid foundation even during difficult times, Prime Minister John Key says.Speaking to the US-NZ Council in Washington DC following the Nuclear Security Summit there, Mr Key said New Zealand a
New Zealand's relationship with the United States maintained a solid foundation even during difficult times, Prime Minister John Key says.
Speaking to the US-NZ Council in Washington DC following the Nuclear Security Summit there, Mr Key said New Zealand and the US were "natural partners" due to shared values including commitment to democracy, rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights.
"And we are prepared to defend these values -- together."
Mr Key highlighted areas where the two countries had worked together: Afghanistan, the Global Research Alliance, South Pacific, Antarctica and now tackling nuclear terrorism.
"Our like-minded approach makes me ambitious for the relationship between our two countries."
A free trade agreement (FTA) for the Asia Pacific region was the current focus, Mr Key said.
"I am delighted that our American colleagues have also seized this vision."
Negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) FTA would be "testing" but would produce "solid benefits" for the US where exports to Asia had been declining over recent years, he said.
The aim is to extend the previously negotiated P4 trade agreement between New Zealand, Brunei, Chile and Singapore to include the US, Australia, Peru and Vietnam.
"I know that New Zealand and United States exporters share the same frustrations with the failure of trade policy and regulations to keep up with the evolution of business practices," Mr Key said.
"If we are to build new and better jobs for New Zealand and American families we need to be actively engaged in this (Asia) area."
Mr Key said he was delighted to hear of the US intention to engage in the TPP, although he recognised joining the TPP would challenge some representatives in the US.
He met with US Vice-President Joe Biden and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack before the start of the summit.
"I made the points about the desire from New Zealand's perspective to see advancement of that free trade agreement, the importance that New Zealand placed on it, and also the importance I thought it had for the region," Mr Key told NZPA.
Thirty senators wrote to US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, accusing New Zealand of anti-competitive practices.
They feel Fonterra wields extensive control over world prices and have asked for their concerns to be given "very careful attention".
Those concerns have already been strongly answered by Trade Minister Tim Groser, who says they are completely unfounded, and Mr Key said he had emphasised that Fonterra had a strong relationship with US dairy companies and represented only about 2 percent of world supply.
