WikiLeaks: NZ's priorities for APEC 2006

February 8, 2006 NZ's priorities for Apec 2006

date:2006-02-08T03:26:00 source:Embassy Wellington origin:06WELLINGTON102 destination:VZCZCXRO9159 RR RUEHCHI RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHPB DE RUEHWL #0102/01 0390326 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 080326Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2364 INFO RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 0048 classification:CONFIDENTIAL reference:06STATE14967|06WELLINGTON102 ?C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000102

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/EP-MMILLER AND EAP/ANP-DRICCI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 0... ?C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000102

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/EP-MMILLER AND EAP/ANP-DRICCI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2016 TAGS: APECO, ECIN, ETRD, NZ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND'S PRIORITIES FOR APEC 2006

REF: STATE 14967

(U) Classified by: Political-Economic Counselor Katherine B. Hadda. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (C) Rupert Holborow, New Zealand's senior official for APEC, said his government has identified key issues it would like APEC 2006 to address, but "without specificity" since it is waiting to learn about other APEC economies' priorities. Meanwhile, New Zealand sees APEC Senior Official Chairman Le Cong Phung as very capable, but is concerned that APEC 2006 may be "quieter" than in past years because an inexperienced Vietnam is the host. Holborow wondered whether Vietnam would have the confidence to drive the agenda and be "a bully at the end of the day," as often has been necessary to obtain economies' agreement. However, Holborow stressed he was not yet judging Vietnam's ability to host APEC. "It gives pause for thought," he said.

2. (U) In a meeting February 7, Holborow told Econoff that New Zealand's priorities for the APEC 2006 agenda would be:

A. WTO and the Doha Development Agenda. While New Zealand does not yet know what APEC might be able to do to move the Doha Round forward, New Zealand believes APEC can make a difference. Pushing for progress in the WTO remains New Zealand's top priority for APEC.

B. Commitment to develop model chapters and guidelines for free trade agreements and regional trade agreements by 2008. While some economies favor completing a chapter at a time, New Zealand would prefer that all chapters be tackled simultaneously and that a timeline be set for finishing them. Otherwise, New Zealand fears that the "easier" chapters would be dealt with first, and progress would stall over the tougher chapters.

C. Commitment to reducing trade facilitation -- or business transaction -- costs by 5 percent this year. New Zealand also would like an additional commitment to a 5 percent reduction in 2007.

D. Enabling private sector development and improving the ease of doing business, including such issues as trade liberalization, trade facilitation and the regulatory environment. New Zealand and Canada have proposed a symposium, "Enabling Private Sector Development," for May 9-10 in Montreal, to coincide with APEC Business Advisory Council meetings. Senior officials will be invited, and New Zealand particularly hopes that U.S. Senior Official Michalak or Assistant USTR Cutler will be able to attend.

E. Work on an agreement on investment.

F. Structural reform. New Zealand and Japan are sponsoring a work plan through 2010. At the Third Senior Officials Meeting, New Zealand will sponsor a seminar on public sector governance.

G. Avian influenza and health issues. Mark Jacobs, director of public health, will represent New Zealand on the health task force.

H. Counter-terrorism. New Zealand supports Singapore's supply chain management proposal. New Zealand will contribute NZ $200,000 (US $136,160) to the Asia Development Bank for a project to harmonize aviation and security regulations in the Pacific. In addition, Holborow said New Zealand should soon sign the memorandum of understanding to participate in the Regional Movement Alert List System and be added to the communique by March 1.

3. (C) Holborow remarked that the U.S. achieved success in promoting its counter-terrorism initiatives in APEC last year by rolling the initiatives out early, keeping their number to a minimum and then "quietly thumping away" at gaining support for them.

4. (U) Holborow noted that Michalak, during his confirmation hearing January 31 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, identified as a U.S. objective for APEC the protection of the food supply against deliberate contamination. Given the New Zealand economy's dependence on agriculture, Holborow is particularly keen to learn what the U.S. has in mind in this area.

5. (SBU) Holborow will arrive in Hanoi for the Senior Officials Meeting on February 25. His office has asked EAP/EP for a meeting with Michalak. Meanwhile, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on February 7

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instructed its posts to seek information on APEC economies' objectives for 2006. McCormick

ENDS