Saturday, 23 November 2024 09:57

US-NZ ties strong 'whoever's in the White House'

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon with Fran O'Sullivan at the US Business Summit. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon with Fran O'Sullivan at the US Business Summit.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.

Speaking at the US Business Summit in Auckland yesterday, Luxon has positive words for both outgoing President Joe Biden and incoming President Donald Trump.

“I have the greatest of respect for the Biden Administration’s achievements. At APEC, I thanked the outgoing President for his 50 years of public service and leadership, and for the contribution he made to the relationship with New Zealand,” he says.

“I was also delighted to speak to President-elect Trump ten days ago, now. What came through loud and clear in that call was his fondness for New Zealand. We spoke about world affairs, but we also discussed the need to build on the very deep foundations of our relationship.

“Whoever is in office, whether Democrat or Republican, my Government’s job is to pursue New Zealand’s interests, to fully harness what our two countries offer one other, and ensure the relationship is at its best.”

Luxon laid out “three inter-connected lines of effort” that his Government will follow with the US - growing both countries’ prosperity, strengthening security and deepening relationship.

The US recently eclipsed Australia to become NZ’s second-largest export market.

Luxon points out that it’s growing exceptionally well.

“Two-way trade is 36% higher this year than before the pandemic, with a trend towards value over volume. We offer American exporters open access to our market, with the main driver of growth in our exports being the strength and relative openness of their economy.”

He says the primary sector remains a mainstay, with nearly $6 billion of safe, sustainable and premium agricultural products sold – exports that often compliment US agriculture producers.

“My Government will continue to work with colleagues in Washington DC to sustain that trade and, where possible, to increase it, by tackling the non-tariff barriers that snarl up exporters’ trade.”

With the Trump Administration coming to power, NZ will be investing in building connections.

“Indeed, that is a focus right now,” says Luxon.

“In addition to talking with the President-elect last week, I used my July visit to build connections with influential Republicans on the Hill and elsewhere in Washington DC. Winston Peters (Foreign Affair Minister) has been doing the same and, as the new Administration unfolds, other ministers will be connecting with their new counterparts, too.

“I know from my personal experience just how important those relationships are. They enable us to find new areas of opportunity and they also create the bandwidth to deal with areas of disagreement.

“There will always be areas of difference between Wellington and Washington DC – whoever occupies the White House. Just as we have things on which we do not see eye to eye with Australia, that is true with the US, too. But these differences are dwarfed by our common interests, and so the relationships we build will enable us to manage those differences sensibly.”

More like this

Editorial: Restoring respect, confidence

OPINION: Last week around 400 farmers turned up at Mystery Creek to hear Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speak as part of Federated Farmers’ ‘The Restoring Farmer Confidence Tour’.

Trade chaos coming?

International trade expert Stephen Jacobi says there could be “chaos” if President-elect Donald Trump sticks to his plan to slap high tariffs on goods from three key import markets.

Days of red tape over

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says excessive regulation imposed by the previous government has resulted in an ‘obstruction economy’.

PM backs GM tech

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has rubbished a report that suggests the primary sector could take a $10 billion hit if genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are released into the environment.

Smugness

OPINION: Just as they did in 2016 when Trump beat Clinton, liberals in the media are crying "how did this happen?"

Featured

No bird flu on second farm

Biosecurity New Zealand says test results to date from a small free-range layer chicken farm near Dunedin are negative for avian influenza.

No disease on other Mainland Poultry farms

Biosecurity New Zealand has reported no signs of disease on other chicken farms operated by Mainland Poultry in Otago, however testing and monitoring work continues.

National

NZ out of step - report

New Zealand is out of step globally in looking to put a price on agricultural emissions from food production.

Pork imports furore

Pork farmers says a significant influx of imported pork is causing them concern.

Govt limits forestry conversions

Farmers have welcomed the Government’s move designed to limit farm to forestry conversions entering the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Machinery & Products

More front hoppers

German seeding specialists Horsch have announced a new 1600- litre double-tank option that will join its current Partner FT single…

Origin Ag clocks up 20 years

With roots dating back to 2004, Origin Ag was formed as a co-operative business model that removed the traditional distributor,…

Teat spray price drop

FIL, the animal health and dairy hygiene subsidiary of GEA Farm Technologies, is dropping the price for its chlorhexidine teat…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Loud noises!

OPINION: One of the strongest arguments for Act’s Treaty Principles Bill is probably its opponents’ total inability to raise a…

Barks like a dog

OPINION: Landcorp is putting a brave face on its latest result, highlighting its progress on KPIs like climate change and…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter