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"The Primary Mission of the United States - New Zealand Council is to foster and strengthen the relationship between these two countries in every area where it is in their respective best interests to do so."
Welcome to the United States - New Zealand Council, an independent non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting a strong bilateral relationship between the United States and New Zealand. It is the premier private organization in the United States engaged in encouraging the expansion of trade, investment and commercial ties between the two countries and in the Asia-Pacific region and is a well - recognized source of information and support for American companies seeking business opportunities there. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Council's principal functions are education, research, convening, and building networks. The Council provides information on a range of economic, political, and security issues affecting the two countries and on their increasing collaboration, historical links and shared values, outlooks, and approaches on economic, political, and legal systems. The Council hosts receptions, luncheons, dinners, and conferences involving visiting NZ officials and American leaders which further understanding, broaden networks and facilitate cultural exchanges. In addition to the highly praised Partnership Forum, events hosted in 2007 -2008 included those honoring Prime Minister Helen Clark, Leader of the Opposition, now Prime Minister, John Key, Trade and Defense Minister Phil Goff, and US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill. A board of distinguished Americans from corporate, political and cultural life directs the Council's activities. The Council also draws heavily for support and advice from the eminent members of its Advisory Board. Council membership includes many of America's leading corporations with business interests in New Zealand as well as New Zealand companies with links to the United States.
Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership The Council works closely with the business communities, government agencies and legislatures in both countries to demonstrate the mutual benefit of and build support for free trade, bilaterally and in the Asia-Pacific. The Council applauded the announcement by the US Trade Representative that the United States would enter comprehensive negotiations with the current TPP signatory countries: New Zealand, Chile, Singapore and Brunei. The US entry into the negotiations is strategically important for the United States in terms of trade with the dynamic Asian - Pacific economies that account for 60% of world GDP, almost half of global trade, 41% of the world's population, and markets of 2.7 billion consumers. The US decision to join the negotiations has induced Australia and Peru to join as well, and Vietnam and a number of other Asia Pacific nations also are considering it. The Council will continue to work closely with our Corporate Members, the broader US business community, trade and other business organizations, bilateral and regional groups, and US and NZ government entities to build support for the TPP agreement.
Recent Papers The NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Murray McCully, gave a speech at the NZ-US Council in Auckland on 25th March, 2009, neatly summarizing the new Government's policy towards US-NZ relations. It can be read here. The Tauscher-Brady Congressional Letter to President Obama in support of the TPP, 10th March 2009. US-NZ Council President John Mullen's Testimony at the USTR TPP Hearing, 4th March 2009. Questions on the US Dairy Industry and the Trans Pacific Partnership Congressional Research Service: The Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership 2007 Forum participant Bruce Stokes wrote two articles about New Zealand for the National Journal following the Forum: "A Zeal for Greener Pastures" on climate change and how it impacts New Zealand and "The Fruits of a Kiwi Agreement" on how a US-NZ Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could serve as a template for future agreements.
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