Opposition blame Clark for fate of free trade deal

The New Zealand Herald ^ | 22.05.2003 | By SHARON LUNDY

[pops88]

The United States rejection of a free trade deal with New Zealand is devastating for New Zealand and Prime Minister Helen Clark must take responsibility, opposition parties say.

US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick yesterday dashed hopes of a free trade agreement, citing too many objections from US farmers.

"A lot of their agricultural exports are ones that are very sensitive here," Mr Zoellick told the US House of Representatives Agriculture Committee, referring specifically to lamb and dairy products.

Mr Zoellick said the US was also disappointed with recent actions by New Zealand.

"There's been some things done recently that would make (a free trade agreement) harder to carry" to the US Congress, he said.

Helen Clark had to apologise to US President George W Bush's administration last month for her comments that the US would not have invaded Iraq if Al Gore were president.

However, she has stuck to her stance that New Zealand would support war in Iraq only if it was sanctioned by the United Nations.

National leader Bill English told NZPA today the blame for the rejection of a free trade deal lay squarely with Miss Clark.

"I think the US accepted that New Zealand could differ over the Iraqi war but unlike all their other friends and allies after the war started, Helen Clark went on a campaign of foot in mouth," he said.

"We've heard from American contacts that the picture of Helen Clark buddying up with (French President) Jacques Chirac has had a lot of play in the US and, of course, he's public enemy number one.

"The US farm lobby would certainly use that against us."

Mr English said the news was particularly devastating for rural and provincial New Zealand, which was coming to the end of a recent boom. A free trade agreement was the next step, he said.

He predicted it would take a long time to repair the damage to the US-New Zealand relationship.

[pops88]

This isn't a surprise and is too bad for the people of NZ.

[bruinbirdman]

"Either you're with us or you're against us. Eh,eh,eh."

yitbos

[nathanbedford]

Miss Clark is of the same cut of cloth as Mary Robinson, of Ireland, Renate Schmidt, of Germany, Hilary Clinton of Herself.

New Zealand can be seen as a mini version of France. It is important that all countries understand beyond peraventure of doubt that a price must be paid if they oppose the legitimate defense interests of the United States.

That price will be paid at first by business and labor who, in turn, will inflict that price on left wing politicians who oppose America and support dictators from ideological animus.

They must also be made to see that the Australias of the world will be rewarded and prosper.

[jagrmeister]

As Kissinger mocked New Zealand- "it is a dagger pointing at the heart of Antartica". Translation: It is an irrelevancy.

[JohnnyZ]

As Kissinger mocked New Zealand

NZ has been a loyal US ally and should dump Clark and get that status back.