Smith Lockwood: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Smith Lockwood: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:612;Page:9042] 
5.  
Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (NZ National—Rodney) 
 to the  
Minister for Trade Negotiations 
: When does he expect New Zealand will get a bilateral free-trade agreement with the United States in light of comments contained in a speech that was to be given by American Ambassador Charles Swindells which said: “the United States Government is not prepared to schedule bilateral trade negotiations at this time.”? [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I am not going to stop again. When questions are being asked people will be leaving if they start making a noise. 
Hon JIM SUTTON (Minister for Trade Negotiations) 
: 
 As the ambassador said “not … at this time”—although I do not rule it out. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Why does the Minister think New Zealand was not invited to a key meeting of friends of free trade hosted by the US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick at the recent World Trade Organization ministerial at Cancun—a meeting of the countries with which the US is planning trade negotiations in the next few years—if it was not because the US is not planning trade negotiations with New Zealand in the next few years? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: My understanding is that the breakfast referred to was for countries with which the United States has already announced it will do trade agreements—mainly as part of regional or plurilateral agreements. As we are not one of those I was not surprised not to be invited. 
David Benson-Pope 
: What action has the Government taken to advance the case for a trade agreement in Washington? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The Government our embassy in Washington and the business community in New Zealand have been making continual efforts to recruit support amongst the US business community and in Congress for a trade agreement with New Zealand. We have continued to promote the need for a trade agreement in discussions with the US administration including talks I have had with the US Trade Representative Bob Zoellick and other senior members of the administration. 
Dail Jones 
: With reference to Ambassador Swindells’ speech from pages 7 to 10 will the Minister draw to the attention of the Prime Minister the following words in the speech: “With honesty understanding and hard work we can create a relationship in which the US and New Zealand are allies in the broadest sense not merely in security terms but across the spectrum: in economics business science and the environment.” and will he remind the Prime Minister that it does not help to abuse the President of the United States with references to Al Gore and the like—an attitude that ensures we do not have honesty understanding or hard work in our relationship with the United States? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I believe that the Prime Minister has read the speech that the ambassador had planned to deliver. I think she would have been particularly taken with the part that stated that the bilateral relationship “is fundamentally strong deep and healthy. It is a longstanding friendship that has withstood the test of time and … occasional differences.” 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: Does the Minister acknowledge that New Zealand’s ban on the visit of nuclear-propelled vessels is a major obstacle to our hopes for our bilateral trade agreement with the United States; and in light of the Somers report findings that there is no public safety or environmental risk reason for continuing the ban what are his Government’s reasons for refusing to remove this paramount obstacle to a negotiated free-trade agreement with the United States? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I accept the assurance of several members of the United States administration that the two issues are not directly connected. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: Does the Minister believe that the Prime Minister’s recent comments to this Parliament that the US Trade Representative Bob Zoellick has looked to make room for this country to come into a list for trade negotiations conveys the same message to the public as the US Ambassador’s statement: “not … at this time.”; if not which of those two statements tends to mislead? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I do not believe that either of those two statements tends to mislead. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: In view of the Minister’s response to my earlier question which part of the following quote from Ambassador Swindells’ statements does the Minister disagree with: “The nuclear issue inevitably colours important policy decisions on both sides limits the scope for further deepening of cooperation in key areas and plays an unhelpful role in how we respond to one another. Twenty years on a re-examination of this issue could benefit us all.”? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The ambassador no doubt accurately conveys the views of the US Government. However where I differ from the member is I do not want New Zealand to abandon its nuclear policies in order to get negotiating coin. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Before I call question No. 6 I want to say I intend to come back to question No. 4 just before question No. 11. Both those questions deal with the same subject and that gives members a chance to look at it if they wish to do so.