Dunne Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Dunne Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:608;Page:5983] 
1. Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
 to the  
Minister for Trade Negotiations 
: Is he optimistic about New Zealand’s chances of securing a free-trade agreement with the United States in the near future particularly in light of United States Trade Representative Robert Zoellick’s comment that: “There’s been some things done recently that would make (a free-trade agreement) harder to carry” and does he think this comment is a reference to the Prime Minister’s stance on Iraq; if not why not? 
Hon JIM SUTTON (Minister for Trade Negotiations) 
: 
 Ambassador Zoellick’s remarks were his own. I do not intend to interpret them. New Zealand will continue to pursue its interest in a trade agreement with the United States. We have known that this would be a big challenge but we are prepared to put the effort in with the United States administration the United States Congress and American business and agriculture groups. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: Does the Minister really believe that opposition from the United States farming lobbies to exports of New Zealand lamb and dairy products is the real reason behind Mr Zoellick’s comments at this time considering that Australia also has a strong lamb and dairy export industry but is nevertheless apparently on the brink of signing such an agreement? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: Ambassador Zoellick’s comments as prepared for delivery contain no reference to New Zealand whatsoever. It is quite clear and it has always been clear that the main obstacle to New Zealand obtaining a free-trade agreement with the United States would be the objections of United States farm interests to additional competition. 
Hon Bill English 
: Does the Minister believe that the “things done recently” might include Helen Clark’s criticism of the Bush presidency her statements aligning us with China and France and the heavy playing in the US of the picture showing her cuddling up to Jacques Chirac at exactly the time he was public enemy No. 1 in the US? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I am quite sure that Ambassador Zoellick would never have heard of most of the things on the Leader of the Opposition’s list of complaints. 
Martin Gallagher 
: Were Ambassador Zoellick’s comments a rejection of New Zealand’s case for a trade agreement? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: As I said before Ambassador Zoellick’s comments are his own and I will not interpret them for him. However the New Zealand Government does not regard this as a rejection of New Zealand’s case for a free-trade agreement. We will continue to follow the advice of Ambassador Zoellick to work with the Congress the Senate the administration the business community and farm groups in support of our case. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: Is it not true that the American farming lobby has no intention of ever allowing New Zealand to have a free-trade agreement with America particularly after the war with Iraq? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The fact of the matter is that New Zealand rural interests are working increasingly closely with United States farm interests in for example the processing and marketing of dairy products where recently New Zealand technology has added significant value to the US industry. We support the initiatives taken by congressman Charles Stenham who recently has facilitated a meeting between New Zealand Australian and United States sheep interests with a view to jointly promoting lamb markets in the United States for the benefit of all. We intend to keep working to ensure a partnership relationship develops here which will not be inimical to a free-trade agreement in the future. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: Does the Minister stand by his statement of 10 May in the  
Dominion Post 
 in response to questions on the Prime Minister’s criticism of the US invasion of Iraq: “So far it hasn’t made any difference as far as I’m concerned.” and does he now concede that the Prime Minister’s comments torpedoed any chance of a free-trade agreement between New Zealand and the US; if not what was Ambassador Zoellick referring to when he said the United States was disappointed at recent actions by New Zealand? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The Government certainly does not accept that those recent remarks torpedo any chance of a future free-trade agreement. All I can say is that I continue to have an excellent working relationship with Ambassador Zoellick pursuing our common interests in trade negotiations particularly in a multilateral arena. 
Rod Donald 
: Does the Minister regard Robert Zoellick’s statement on 8 May that countries must cooperate with the United States on foreign policy and national security goals before they meet his criteria for a free-trade agreement as bribery and blackmail; if the Minister does agree does he also agree that it is more important for New Zealand to maintain an independent foreign policy stance than to succumb to America’s wishes to dominate the planet? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I do not share the member’s uncharitable interpretation of other people’s comments. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: In the light of Mr Zoellick’s comments does the Minister not now consider it vital that the New Zealand Government immediately seek to improve its diplomatic and political relationships with both Australia and the United States and if he does think that way what steps are to be taken? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: The Government has consistently taken the view that these are two of New Zealand’s most important bilateral relationships and it does its best to develop those constructively. However by doing that we do not forgo the chance to express an independent view on foreign policy issues. 
Hon Bill English 
: What does the Minister say to those rural and provincial communities that will miss out on $1 billion worth of trade jobs and opportunities and that believed him when he said on 5 May: “Not too long after Australia has completed an agreement we will be there with a good chance of negotiating one ourselves.”? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I have no reason to change that view. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: Does the Minister recall his statement of 1 April 2003 in response to being asked whether sending troops to Iraq would help to secure a free-trade agreement: “I don’t believe it would make any enduring difference”; if so can he explain to the House what actions lack of actions or comments by the Government he now thinks have made that difference? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I certainly do not believe that any comments the New Zealand Government or members thereof have made about the Iraq war have made any enduring difference to the relationship. A healthy relationship allows the free and frank expression of views. We disagree from time to time with our friends on many subjects. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The member did not really address the question because he actually turned it on its head. The question the Hon Peter Dunne raised was really the same as my question. We both asked the Minister what things New Zealand had done that have caused this change. He got up and said that he does not think it was this statement and he does not think it was that statement. What does he think caused the change? That is the question Mr Dunne asked. We want to know what New Zealand has done that has caused us to lose our free-trade agreement. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: He did address the question. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: If it is nothing that New Zealand has done and if the issue is not one of opposition from the United States farm lobby what steps does the Minister think New Zealand now needs to take to ensure that we are back on the list in terms of a free-trade agreement being negotiated at some point in the future? 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I am not aware that New Zealand has ever formally been on any such list or indeed that any such list exists. All I can do is reiterate that we will continue to work with legislators with the administration with the business community and with farm groups in the United States to advance our case for a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement.