WELLINGTON, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English said on Tuesday that New Zealand will not rule out other versions of free trade, as the United States decided to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).
English said in a routine news conference in Beehive, the New Zealand Parliament building, that President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the TPP was not unexpected, but still a disappointment to New Zealand, after the hard work of negotiating the agreement.
According to English, the remaining TPP ministers are going to meet over the next few months to consider the next possible steps, but how it will play out remained to be seen.
The New Zealand PM noted Trump's comment about negotiating bilateral deals. He said New Zealand has always interested in closer trade ties with the U.S., whether it's through agreements like TPP or through bilateral deals. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay planned to visit the U.S. to meet the new trade representative Robert Lighthizer.
New Zealand will remain positive in open trade, said English. He emphasized New Zealand will not rule out other opportunities of multilateral and bilateral trade agreements.
"Bear in mind, TPP is not the only game in town for us," English said in the news conference, "We got the EU discussion going on, we got the RCEP agreement in Southeast Asia." He believed the political wills of RCEP will pick up speed, as TPP does not proceed.
U.S. President Trump Monday signed three memorandums, ordering the withdrawal from the TPP. He said the 11 other countries of the TPP will be approached to negotiate a one-on-one deal with the U.S.
