AAP: NEW Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has capped a week of talks in New York and Washington DC by meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
New Zealand is cautiously resetting its relationship with the United States as it watches radical shifts in policy and style from Donald Trump’s administration.
Two months on from President Trump’s inauguration – an epoch-shifting moment for the nation’s history – Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has enjoyed talks in New York City and Washington DC.
His self-declared mission statement?
“Keep our head down. Wait until the dust settles before we make any decisions,” he told NZ radio station Newstalk ZB.
Mr Peters, in his third stint as New Zealand’s foreign minister, met with American counterpart Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) in the climax to talks on this week-long visit.
The pair spent over half an hour in discussion at the State Department, discussing “efforts to enhance security co-operation, address regional challenges, and support the Pacific Islands” according to a US official.
Mr Peters described his trip as a “seriously valuable time” to be in the US, allowing him to see first-hand the maelstrom of changes and help Kiwi diplomats chart a pathway forward with the superpower.
Unlike Australia, New Zealand is not a formal defence ally with the US, though Washington and Wellington collaborate on many defence, intelligence and security projects.
It is also a vital trade partner for New Zealand – without the benefit of a free trade agreement, with Mr Peters saying he used the meeting to raise concerns it harboured over the possible implementation of tariffs.
The US has begun levying tariffs on allies and major trade partners as Mr Trump pursues policies of economic nationalism that are likely to hurt trading nations like New Zealand.
Mr Peters did not share whether he had information on what the US plans on future tariffs, or whether New Zealand might be given exemptions.
“We shared some significant information, for example, that since 1870 we’ve been asking about a trade agreement and I pointed out to him how patient we were on the matter of tariffs,” he said.
“We had set the standard four decades ago (by eliminating tariffs) and other countries were catching up in terms of fairness. He understood that, so we came away much more confident than when we originally came here.”
Beyond trade, huge changes Mr Trump has made since taking office include slashing aid and support to developing nations, mass deportations of criminals, targeted deportations of visa-holders, and huge cuts to public officials.
For many observers, it’s been a startling and alarming period, but the 79-year-old said he would not read too much into early shifts.
“There has been a lot of alarmed comment by too many people about what it all means,” he said.
“We’ve advocated from day one, let the dust settle, let’s find out what it all means.
“Caution is the name of the game here, and I’m pleased we’ve taken that position as we walk into a room having said nothing stupid.”
Mr Peters said climate change was not a subject of discussion with Mr Rubio.
Along with Mr Rubio, Mr Peters has met with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Republican and Democratic party members, other State Department officials and United Nations officeholders on his travels.
