Long way back in the queue for free trade

March 21, 2007 3:18 PM

The New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark is in Washington DC at the moment and met President George W. Bush formally for the second time this morning (NZST). Although New Zealand is no longer an ally of the US we are apparently very, very, very good friends – but there is only talk about a free trade agreement between us (unlike some).
posted by Samuel Farrow (24 comments total)

This is serious newsfilter - i.e. really boring mundane stuff. Flagged.

There are so many more interesting enzed pieces you could do.
posted by wilful at 3:21 PM on March 21, 2007

this made me laugh.
posted by phaedon at 3:26 PM on March 21, 2007

Enzedfilter.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 3:39 PM on March 21, 2007

Added as keyword - thanks i_am_joe's_spleen.
posted by Samuel Farrow at 3:46 PM on March 21, 2007

Wilful, I do appreciate that this isn't youtube hilarity - but interesting is dependent upon opinion.

Now if I could just get that Metatalk callout I have been dreaming about all these years...
posted by Samuel Farrow at 4:02 PM on March 21, 2007

Thanks, I didn't know about the NZ nuclear free zone before. Doesn't New Zealand have some kind of region free DVD law that will probably be a stumbling block to free trade agreements?
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:11 PM on March 21, 2007

There are so many cool debates being held in New Zealand right now. Whether or not to FTA isn't one of them.

How about child spanking and possible racial undertones? Or the exclusive brethren? Or the therapeutic drugs listing issue

you didn't mention CER, one of the best bilateral FTAs ever. Nor did you mention the debate in new zealand when Australia secured an FTA with the US.

This aint about youtube.

And I'm not even a kiwi...
posted by wilful at 4:35 PM on March 21, 2007

wilful - there is no debate in New Zealand about whether or not to FTA - which is why I raised the issue here in the first place.
posted by Samuel Farrow at 4:53 PM on March 21, 2007

yeah, the usual American bullshit. Free trade agreements with Bahrain, Morocco, Oman and other peace loving free countries, but not free trade agreement with New Zealand because of it's nuclear policy.

These days, whenever I hear an American accent, I just tune the fuck out.
posted by dydecker at 5:05 PM on March 21, 2007 [1 favorite]

Dear Kiwis - We wuv ewe. Lurve, W.
posted by DenOfSizer at 6:30 PM on March 21, 2007

Based on what we have got from the AUS/USA FTA, I wouldn't be rushing in:
- more restrictive IP laws
- challenges to our quarantine regulations
- illegal tariffs on steel
- pressure to change the way we buy pharmaceuticals

and god knows what else will emerge.
I suspect in the future, countries like NZ will be able to trade at a premium as an exclusive niche of non-homogenised goods and services, as you already do in lamb, dairy and wine.
I wish we still had the same level of independence (not to mention integrity).
posted by bystander at 6:49 PM on March 21, 2007

New Zealand is no longer an ally of the US

Where'd you get that idea?

These days, whenever I hear an American accent, I just tune the fuck out.

Well, at least you aren't a position to accuse Americans of being closed-minded.
posted by oaf at 6:53 PM on March 21, 2007

Dear Kiwis - We wuv ewe. Lurve, W.

W, if you wanna get anything done with the Kiwis, you'd better keep your hands off their ewes!
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:55 PM on March 21, 2007

I suspect in the future, countries like NZ will be able to trade at a premium as an exclusive niche of non-homogenised goods and services, as you already do in lamb, dairy and wine.

Yeh, and when Ustralia is covered in generic Wal-Marts & lardy fast food joints, as it surely will be by, um, about the end of the month, it will be nice to know we can all just hop across the Tasman & colonise the Free Republic of East Australia, where the non-homogeneous cheese, wine & reggae are far superior.
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:03 PM on March 21, 2007

oaf - NZ and USA are no longer allies, the ANZUS treaty no longer includes NZ, it is Australia - USA only now (and the wording is quite weak, compared to say the NATO alliance).
posted by bystander at 7:11 PM on March 21, 2007

UbuRoivas - that is a shame as I am in Sydney for the V festival on the 31st, and I hate fastfood.
posted by Samuel Farrow at 7:23 PM on March 21, 2007

bystander: Hmm. After reading up on it, it looks like New Zealand forced the U.S. out to rush into the arms of...Fiji? That doesn't make too much sense. Especially since Fiji has banned most New Zealand government officials from entering.
posted by oaf at 7:26 PM on March 21, 2007

oaf, Fiji has been in a permanent state of coup, counter-coup, martial law & civil unrest for decades now. I suspect that they don't want their big cuz's in the South Pacific meddling too much in their internal affairs.

Either that, or they're afraid of having their best rugby players poached into the All Blacks.
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:37 PM on March 21, 2007

the ANZUS treaty no longer includes NZ, it is Australia - USA only now

Hm, so with the NZ removed, what do we call ANZUS now?

Will it be AUS or USA, do you think...?
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:39 PM on March 21, 2007

Australia's New US Treaty?
posted by Samuel Farrow at 7:42 PM on March 21, 2007

Ally or no this has got to go better than Bush' last get together with a female primeminister.

Doesn't it?
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 8:22 AM on March 22, 2007

New Zealand journalists nearly cause diplomatic incident at the Whitehouse.
posted by Samuel Farrow at 2:51 PM on March 22, 2007

what? did they deign to ask a *gasp* unscripted question?

("Mr. Bush: your campaign in Iraq seems to have the momentum of a train wreck. Why are you so unpopular amongst the Iraqis?')
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:35 PM on March 22, 2007

Caption contest.
posted by wilful at 8:11 PM on March 22, 2007