NZ has not pushed for Obama meeting – Key

Prime Minister John Key says he is not pushing for a meeting with Barack Obama this year because the United States President is so busy.

Mr Key was asked today about Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's planned meeting with the US President later this month.

Mr Key and Mr Rudd held talks yesterday and are continuing them today.

Mr Key said Australia's relationship with the US was "arguably larger" than New Zealand's. For example New Zealand had 154 troops in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, while Australia had committed over 1000 in the country.

"We have deliberately tried not to push for a meeting in the White House in 2009," he told Radio Live.

"I'm a bit of the view that Obama has got so many things to deal with and, on a relative basis, we are a pretty small country."

Last year the US announced it would begin negotiations on joining the "P4" trans-Pacific trade pact with New Zealand, Chile, Singapore and Brunei. Since then Australia and Peru decided to join in the "Comprehensive Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement" as it is now known.

New Zealand has pressed for years for a free-trade agreement with the US, but has faced strong opposition from US dairy and other farmers worried about opening the US market to a strong competitor.

The pact - initially signed in 2005 - aims to tear down tariff barriers among member companies within a decade. US accession to the pact could be worth up to $1 billion a year for New Zealand's economy.

Mr Key was confident of getting a meeting at the White House but thought it better to wait.

"...it's better to have that a time when we can arguably get more focus and may be slightly more advanced in the trade negotiations.

"In my view its not really something we should rush in 2009, I am sure there will be some contact in the foreseeable future."

- NZPA