Editorial: Moore natural fit for pivotal US trade role

Mike Moore. Photo / Dean Purcell

In the normal course of events, there would be much to criticise in the appointment of Mike Moore as New Zealand's ambassador in Washington.

Top overseas posts should, generally speaking, be taken by career diplomats, who are trained in the requisite tact and conduct and well-versed in the multiple requirements of the job.

Too often, however, men and women from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade must make way for politicians, who are either being rewarded for their service to a party or are being moved on.

Happily, Mr Moore, while a long-serving Labour MP, minister in charge of that department and former Prime Minister, falls into neither of these categories.

The appointment to Washington springs from his career subsequent to politics, especially that of heading the World Trade Organisation. He has the skills and contacts on Capitol Hill at a pivotal time in this country's trading relationship with the United States.

Unquestionably, his WTO credentials and record will open doors that might remain shut to professional diplomats, whatever their qualifications and experience.

Mr Moore's priority in Washington will be shepherding the US towards membership of the Trans Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership, which currently includes New Zealand, Chile, Singapore and Brunei.

In November, President Barack Obama announced Washington's willingness to talk about joining an expanded pact. Negotiations to include the US, Australia, Peru and Vietnam in the TPP are scheduled for March. If the President's ardour for trade liberalisation remains undiminished, he would probably like to have the deal completed by the time he hosts Apec in November next year.

This process will involve Mr Moore thinking regionally, rather than taking a global perspective. The Trans Pacific Partnership offers potentially fewer rewards than those on offer before the latest WTO round stalled, but there is, nonetheless, much to be gained from the liberalisation of trade between this country and the world's largest economy.

Mr Moore has already done a substantial amount of groundwork, having been co-chairman of the US-NZ Partnership forums in Washington in 2006 and 2009 and in New Zealand in 2008. He is already well-acquainted with many of the most influential US policymakers. He also knows key figures in the American union movement and the farming sector, whose support will be essential if any free-trade deal is to find favour in Congress.

It is sometimes said that, particularly for a country like New Zealand, foreign affairs is mainly about trade. But the Washington post will also be a key player in the ongoing improvement in relations with the US.

Mr Moore will have to grapple with a wide range of issues, traversing the likes of defence, military co-operation, nuclear disarmament and security intelligence. If there is to be a problem - the result, perhaps, of one of Mr Moore's essays into eclecticism - it could arise in one of these areas. The prudence of the professional diplomats in the Washington embassy will be his ally if he is to enjoy a gaffe-free tenure.

One of Prime Minister John Key's oft-stated beliefs is that New Zealand should be geared up like a company to make the most of its assets. Who better than the former director-general of the World Trade Organisation to attempt to usher the US towards a free-trade agreement that would be of considerable benefit to this country? Mr Moore may not have the training and years of experience of a career diplomat.

But he has entries on his curriculum vitae that, in this instance, are more important. Exceptions to a rule should be made in exceptional circumstances. This is one of them.