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| Southeast Asia |
| Obama endorses Pacific free-trade bloc |
| 2009-11-14 |
| President Obama has given a much-hoped-for endorsement of the eight -member free trade arrangement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The endorsement, made during a speech in Japan, came as virtually all Asian leaders used the APEC summit in Singapore to vent frustration about creeping US protectionism, and its threat to global recovery and the US economy. Speaking at the APEC meeting, Australia's Trade minister Simon Crean says President Obama's endorsement is a breakthrough. "I'm not trying to underestimate the difficulties going forward," he said. "But the advances will only be made if the political will is there to try and address those difficulties and today's commitment by the US is a clear statement that they have such political will and we welcome it." US trade representative Ron Kirk has echoed President Obama's support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade arrangement at the APEC meeting. "We're focused on shaping stronger more open trading system," he said. Mr Crean says it is the signal the region needed from the United States. "This announcement is really terribly important in demonstrating the political will," he said. To advance the trans-Pacific trade agenda, officials are scheduled to meet quickly during APEC in Singapore, with more meetings already set down for next year. Mr Obama also said America's commitment to the security of the Asia-Pacific region was unshakeable. He warned the US would continue to use its nuclear deterrent to protect its allies, and would not be intimidated by nuclear threats from North Korea. But the President stressed it was not too late for a new start in relations with the communist country. "The United States is prepared to offer North Korea a different future," he said. "Instead of an isolation that has compounded the horrific repression of its own people, North Korea could have a future of international intergration. And instead of increasing insecurity it could have a future of greater security and respect." |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #2 What? No pictures of Dear Leader wearing his Mao jacket in Singapore? If I wasn't frothing and sputtering so, I'd provide a link. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2009-11-14 20:11 |
| #1 First renegotiating NAFTA, now free trade deal with Asia. How does anyone take anything this guy says seriously? |
| Posted by: DoDo 2009-11-14 19:52 |