Zoellick reaffirms realities
Comments yesterday by the US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick reaffirm the difficulties facing New Zealand in
securing a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, says Simon Carlaw Business NZ Chief Executive.
"No amount of speculation alters the importance to New Zealand of ensuring a positive outcome from the upcoming WTO
round of multilateral trade negotiations or in pressing forward New Zealand's case for an FTA with the United States.
The United States has consistently said New Zealand will not be in the first rank of FTA candidates. This means it is
also critical that efforts to broaden and deepen our CER relationship with Australia are also accorded the highest
priority."