Moves Towards Trans Pacific Negotiations Welcome

Media release 13 March 2009

NZ US Council Welcomes Further Steps Towards Resumption Of Trans Pacific Negotiations

The NZ US Council is pleased that members of the Friends of New Zealand Congressional Caucus have sent a letter to the President Barack Obama, with 45 signatures, supporting the Trans Pacific Partnership Negotiations (TPP). The Senate Finance Committee has also approved former Mayor of Dallas Ron Kirk as United States Trade Representative.

““The Congressional letter indicates that TPP enjoys bipartisan support in the Congress alongside strong support in the American business community. Ron Kirk’s confirmation is a further step towards resumption of TPP negotiations”, said NZ US Council Executive Director Stephen Jacobi.

During Kirk’s confirmation hearing the Senate Finance Committee Chair, Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana), spoke positively about TPP saying “the sooner the Obama Administration commits to TPP negotiations, the sooner those negotiations can grow into a broader regional deal that encompasses Japan and other countries with greater commercial impact.”

“These developments provide further reassurance that these negotiations will be resumed once Ambassador Kirk has been fully briefed and the stock-take of US trade policy has been completed”, said Mr Jacobi.

Kirk’s confirmation now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

Mr Jacobi said that leading business organisations, including the US Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, he Coalition for Service Industries and the National Foreign Trade Council among others had testified in support of TPP in hearings held by the US Trade Representative’s Office in Washington on 4 March. The US NZ Council had also testified in these hearings.

“We are confident that these negotiations will proceed because key stakeholders in the United States can see their value for American interests, particularly in encouraging more open markets in the Asia Pacific region and addressing the current financial crisis”.

Mr Jacobi said that NZ Inc would have the opportunity to engage with the Obama Administration and New Zealand’s constituency in Washington at the third US NZ Partnership Forum scheduled for 6-8 October 2009.

Note to editors
The Friends of New Zealand Congressional Caucus currently co-chaired by Ellen Tauscher (D-California) and Kevin Brady (R-Texas) was established in 2005. A copy of the Friends’ letter and testimony by US NZ Council President John Mullen to the USTR hearing are posted at www.nzuscouncil.com

About the NZUS Council – www.nzuscouncil.com
The NZ US Council is a non partisan body funded by both business and the Government to promote New Zealand’s broader relationship with the US. Two-way trade with the US is valued at over $8 billion and the US is a leading source of investment, innovation and business ideas. In September 2008 the US announced it would negotiate with New Zealand, Chile, Singapore and Brunei to join the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). The Council, together with its Washington based counterpart organises the US NZ Partnership Forum. The third Partnership Forum will be held in Washington DC 6-8 October 2009.

ENDS

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