2 October 2009
Media Advisory

Goff to Washington, New York for trade, economic and security meetings

Labour Leader Phil Goff leaves for the US tonight for talks with senior members of the US Administration, Congressmen and the United Nations.

He will also be meeting with think tanks and international financial institutions. He will be accompanied on the 10-day trip by Labour’s trade spokesperson Maryan Street.

“In Washington, I am meeting with members of the Administration and with Congressional representatives. I will be working with the Government to promote New Zealand’s interests in trade,” Phil Goff said.

“In particular, I will be supporting progress in the TransPacific Partnership Agreement negotiations, which I signed on New Zealand’s behalf last year, and pushing for an outcome to the World Trade Doha Round.

“I will also be having discussions on economic and monetary policy and regional and international security issues.

“Meetings include bilaterals with the United States Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, the Deputy Secretary of State, James Steinberg, and Assistant Secretaries of State, Defence and Agriculture. The four Congressional visits include meeting with the Chair of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, Congressman Sandy Levin.

“I will also meet the World Bank, IMF and think tanks such as the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

“I will attend the US-NZ Partnership Forum along with Ministers Murray McCully and Tim Groser and my colleague Maryan Street. This will be the third meeting I have attended of the Forum since I helped inaugurate it in 2006,” Phil Goff said.

“The Forum is chaired by my former counterpart as Trade Minister United States Special Representative Susan Schwab and former Congressman Cal Dooley and on our side by former Prime Ministers Mike Moore and Jim Bolger.

“The Forum has proven effective in bringing together business and political leaders from both sides to promote the New Zealand-United States relationship.

“In New York, I am having discussions with Helen Clark and other senior members of the UN on global security, climate change and development and economic issues.” Phil Goff said.

ENDS

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