Barnett Tim: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Barnett Tim: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:612;Page:9305] 
4.  
TIM BARNETT (Labour—Christchurch Central) 
 to the  
Minister for Trade Negotiations 
: What benefits to New Zealand trade emerged out of APEC discussions? 
Hon JIM SUTTON (Minister for Trade Negotiations) 
: 
 The APEC economies at this week’s meeting committed to re-energising the Doha round negotiations which are vital to us as a small trading nation. It is only through the World Trade Organization negotiations that we tackle major problems such as export subsidies. 
Tim Barnett 
: As well as the boost to regional and multilateral trade relationships what bilateral trade enhancement was achieved? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The most significant was the high-level agreement with the Thai Government to progress a trade agreement with New Zealand with the ambition of having it ready to sign at next year’s APEC leaders meeting. That may have significance for our dairy trade. We also had the opportunity to explore issues further around potential trade agreements with several other economies. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: Why should New Zealanders believe that there is any likelihood of a free-trade agreement with APEC partner the United States—currently negotiating with Australia—any time soon given that we are not even on the list of potential negotiation partners? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The member should be aware that there is encouraging support amongst the United States business and political communities for a trade agreement with New Zealand. Our embassy in Washington and the business community in New Zealand make continuous efforts to advance our case as do Ministers and the Minister for Trade Negotiations when in discussions with the US administration—despite the opposition from the Opposition I may say. 
Dail Jones 
: Whom does the Minister think he is fooling with this answer because despite having spent over 100 days overseas since the last election and having spent probably in excess of half a million dollars on these matters he has achieved nothing new and his ineptitude almost matches that of the Minister of Immigration Lianne Dalziel but he is not quite as bad as that yet? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The member should eat his heart out. He will never have this job. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I would like the Minister to make a little bit more—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. One hundred days abroad and after his expenditure of probably about three-quarters of a million dollars if I take into account his staff and no results “Eat your heart out. I’m the one who’s enjoying the gravy train.” cannot be an answer 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I just said I would like the Minister to be a little fuller in his answer. 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: Any trade Minister would need to spend 100 days abroad or more to do the job properly. 
Rod Donald 
: Notwithstanding the Minister had the same level of ambition for a free-trade deal with Hong Kong and that has not come off how in all conscience can the Government be seeking a free-trade agreement with Thailand when that country has an appalling record of exploiting tens of thousands of children when its minimum wage of less than $1 an hour is below the cost of living and when the Minister well knows that thousands of jobs in New Zealand particularly held by Maori and Pacific Island workers would disappear in what is left of our clothing sector if any such deal did come off? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I have every confidence that our agreement with Thailand when it eventuates will be of benefit to both countries will increase employment in both countries and by that being done in Thailand will put it in a stronger position to address the sorts of problems the member refers to.