TEL: 14. Sep. 93 9: 00 No. 002 P. 01/ 02
K
PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON. P.
J. KXEATINGt M. P. U. S. CAPITOL GROUNDS, WASHINGTON, US. A.
MONDAY 13 SEPTEMBERt 1993
PM: There were a few questions on health but principally I think the, if you're after an
impression of the last day or so, this is the right time to be in Washingtorr putting
Australian views. With NAFTA about to be concluded in the Congress and with
now the critical time with the Uruguay Round emerging with the end of the
legislative fast track the Presdent has on Uruguay this is the time to be talking
about trade structures. And the conversation I just had with Speaker Foley and
senior representatives of the Congress was about international trading structures;
what's best for America and the world and countries like Australia and the Pacific.
So, I think coming here at the moment, talking about Uruguay, a successful
conclusion of it and also the future of APEC and its design these are issues
which are absolutely uppermost in the winds of American legislators and of
course, the United States Adihinistrmtion.
J: What points did you make about APEC?
PM: Just that I think that it serves U. S. and Pacific interests generally. That is, either
as an overlay to a successful Uruguay Round, that is something which can
actually improve upon the outcome of Uruguay. Or in the event that the Uruguay
Round fails and that the French seek to pull the rug on the Blair House
Agreement, then in that case APEC defines a community with a high degree of
integration. In fact APEC is more integrated in terms of intra-state trade than is
the European Community or NAFTA. And it makes a lot of sense for the United
States to be part of that, of that development even if it is in the configuration of
NAFTA itself.
J: Was the American response from Mr Kantor expressed in those terms to you?
PM; They regard the legislative opportunity given to the fast track process to the
President by the Congress as one which has to be taken up and therefore that the
I LL
Round we Aceed to be mnovi toward a conclusion of the Round now so that the
December 15 Idate is observed.
But this arnbi~ ious notion of APEC as a community, was that somtething that was
picked up by Mir Kantor?
PM;. Yes, I hiks,
high degree o
repect upon
to what rernit
the vezydefir
high degree a
States as well
J* ( inaudible)
PM: I'd say that, h~
within the ad~
starting to tin
fifty percent
States and thu
th= e times tI,
there's a natu
can see.
J: How do they 3. As a defined body of naions who've got a common interest and a
f integration-And how it develops, of course, will deped in some
the Seattle ministerial meeting of APEC and the leadens' meeting as
the leaders want to give APEC into the future. But there's no doubt
ing of it, the drawing of a boundary around it, the recognition of the
f integration is something which is obviously of use to the United
as Australia.
the Administration's mrind -there is a lot of enthusiasm for it
ninistration. Less so in the Congress, but I think the Congress is
lerstand the opportunity of APEC, the weight of the... the fact that
of world GNP is in the APEC area and it is accessible to the United
already United States exports to the Western Pacific are growing at
e pace of imports to the United States from the Western Pacific. So,
-al economic opportunity there which I think Congressional leaders
see APEC and NAFTA fitting togeter, Prime Minister?
Well, I wou4 l tink that they see APEC being an opportunity whether the United
States appro ehes it in a singular way that is jointly or severally. Jointly with
NAFTA or se rally with say Canada, the United States and Mexico. In either
event, it mealis a higher level of trade, a higher velocity of trade, greater
opportunity t6 be part of a larger block, a larger group of nations who are
experiencing Irates of growth far higher than North America or Western Europe.
What about LP, Prime Minister? How far did you push that and what was the
reaction? r
Well, I said: I them that we appreciated President Bush's commitment to
Australians Jot to extend EEP into other markets And we would appreciate that
assurance be ng kept. And that consideration being given to Australia in markets
where EB? rmnerly hasn't been markets where Australia very defintely is.
And the Trade Secretary said yes, he understood thai: and their decision to stay
away from t1' e markets the market in Indonesia for instance was an example
of the practi ~ al expression of that understanding.
PM: J: PM: Ends. I 114. L.: Sep. 96 J; UU INU. ULJL r. UZ/