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WATCH: PM Bill English joins Leighton Smith in studio

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Wed, 29 Mar 2017, 11:17AM

WATCH: PM Bill English joins Leighton Smith in studio

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Wed, 29 Mar 2017, 11:17AM

The Prime Minister is taking an optimistic view to the chance of building trade ties with the USA.

Securing a free trade deal was part of the Government's new trade strategy announced last week.

Bill English told Leighton Smith the Trump administration is taking some time to fill the positions our officials would normally talk to.

"That creates a bit of a challenge, but we just have to be patient," he said.

"In the long run, I think that the arguments for the US being an open rather than a closed economy in favour of trade rather than against it, will prevail."

English also identified a possible new US border tax as a potential threat to global trade.

The Trump administration has been discussing such a move at is considers measure to address balance of trade deficits with some of its trading partners.

English said if implemented it would have a big impact on the world's trading system.

"We rely on it being an open, rules-driven trading system where everyone's trying to reduce their barriers, not increase them. So I'd say in the more shorter term, that's the bigger risk."

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