Free trade a laugh for Bush
Free trade a laugh for Bush
By Colin Espiner - Fairfax Media
23 March 2007
Prime Minister Helen Clark has left Washington claiming a successful visit, despite failing to gain any new commitments on trade or on future military cooperation.
Miss Clark met United States President George W Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney at the White House yesterday for a half-hour meeting in the Oval Office, followed by lunch in the state dining room.
Mr Bush was friendly and relaxed with Miss Clark, describing her as an honest and straightforward woman who cared deeply about the country she represents.
He praised New Zealand’s work in the South Pacific and Miss Clark’s leadership in particular, saying she had been dealing with some difficult issues, and pledged US support: "I assured her that our government wants to help in any way we can."
Mr Bush said he found the conversation constructive.
Guests at the lunch included Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, White House chief of staff Josh Bolten, National Security Council head Dennis Wilder, and American ambassador Bill McCormick.
But Mr Bush did not mention New Zealand’s desire for a free trade agreement, and laughed when Miss Clark brought up the issue. In keeping with every other member of his administration during Miss Clark’s visit to Washington, he refused to take any questions from the media.
Miss Clark said trade had been discussed with Mr Bush and she was happy with his position. Mr Bush’s first priority was getting the US Congress to extend the authority of the administration to negotiate trade deals.
"This isn’t a time when the US is actually adding anyone to the negotiating list," she said. "What we’ve done is strongly register our interest, at such point as it becomes possible, to open up the negotiating queue."
She said Mr Bush’s laughing when she mentioned a trade deal showed his frustration at not being able to push agreements through Congress, rather than mirth. "He’s pretty passionate about it but has been frustrated in terms of achieving it. He would like to see progress on trade."
Mr Bush’s laughter prompted National Party leader John Key to claim New Zealand’s chances of an deal were slim.
"We have no hope of getting a trade deal before the next US presidential elections in 2008. This is a huge foreign policy failure by the Helen Clark-led Labour Government."
New Zealand’s nuclear-free legislation was raised at two top-level meetings yesterday - a sign that while the US may have forgiven New Zealand for banning nuclear ship visits, it has not forgotten. Mr Bush "registered" the position but had not raised it as an obstacle to good relations, Miss Clark said.
Despite the lack of promises, Washington turned on the ceremony for Miss Clark, including a full honour guard on the steps of the Pentagon and a visit to Arlington cemetery, where many of the US’ war dead are buried.
