Sunday, November 13, 2011

DTN News - APEC SUMMIT IN HONOLULU: Asia-Pacific Region Critical To US Economic Recovery Says Obama

Asian Defense News: DTN News - APEC SUMMIT IN HONOLULU: Asia-Pacific Region Critical To US Economic Recovery Says Obama
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - November 13, 2011: In the Pacific state of Hawaii, U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday told leaders of the 21 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation economies that the region will be key to U.S. economic recovery.

With much of the formal summit activity, including a working lunch, concentrated over a few hours, Mr. Obama underscored the importance of APEC's trade liberalization priorities for the global economy and the United States.

Addressing the opening session, the president said the nearly three billion people in 21 APEC countries are looking to the three-decade-old organization to create opportunities through expanded trade that will boost economic growth and create jobs.

APEC's goals of slashing tariffs and removing trade barriers, Mr. Obama said, are critical for the U.S. economic recovery. "The Asia-Pacific region is absolutely critical to America's economic growth. We consider it a top priority. And we consider it a top priority because we are not going to be able to put our folks back to work and grow our economy and expand opportunity, unless the Asia-Pacific region is also successful," he said.

Mr. Obama said the region is key to his objective of doubling U.S. exports, adding that APEC economies need to work together to spur "quicker, sturdy and sustainable" economic growth.

A final APEC statement is expected to point to progress toward creating what Mr. Obama referred to as a "seamless regional economy," with agreements aimed at boosting trade and investment by promoting "green" jobs, innovation, and streamlining and coordinating regulations.

The United States and eight other APEC nations already have announced agreement on "broad outlines" to create a new Trans-Pacific Partnership trade group, or TPP, that Mr. Obama says would be a model for broader open regional trade.

In addition to the United States, other TPP participants include Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. China has been critical of the grouping, saying it reflects protectionist tendencies in APEC.

U.S. officials say Mr. Obama was expected to hold additional talks on the sidelines of the summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao. In their main meeting on Saturday, the two men discussed trade and differences over China's currency policies.

The issue of Iran's nuclear program and a recent International Atomic Energy Agency report that provided evidence of secret Iranian weapons development efforts have also been a focus of Mr. Obama's meetings with the leaders of China and Russia.

U.S. officials say China and Russia remain supportive of continuing diplomatic steps aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapons capability.

Mr. Obama says that he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to work to "shape a common response" on Iran against the backdrop of the nuclear report. U.S. officials say consultations will continue about the next steps to increase pressure on Tehran.

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APEC Related News;

JAPAN PM PLEDGES FISCAL REFORM AT APEC, SAYS TO JOIN TPP TALKS

Wall Street Journal - ‎14 minutes ago‎
HONOLULU (Dow Jones)--Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Sunday pledged at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit to pursue fiscal reforms to prevent the spread of global credit concerns to Asia in the wake of Europe's debt crisis. ...

HARPER ON CANADIAN ECONOMY: 'LOOK FAR EAST'

Toronto Sun - ‎1 hour ago‎
By Daniel Proussalidis ,Parliamentary Bureau If the United States doesn't want oil from Alberta's oilsands, Canada can find other customers. Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he's not just disappointed by American foot-dragging on the proposed...

TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP AN EXTRA SAFETY RAFT FOR S'PORE, SAYS PM

Straits Times - ‎1 hour ago‎
'Singapore is totally dependent on trade. It is our lifeblood,' says PM Lee. -- PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO By Chua Chin Hon, US Bureau Chief HONOLULU - Trade-dependent Singapore can naturally expect a boost from the freer flow of goods, services and ...

CANADA LATEST ENTRANT INTO PACIFIC TRADE TALKS

AFP - ‎1 hour ago‎
HONOLULU, Hawaii — Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Sunday that Canada will enter talks on creating a vast trans-Pacific free trade deal, the latest boost for the US-led pact after Japan joined negotiations. Harper, who is attending an Asia-Pacific ...

TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP

동아일보 - ‎1 hour ago‎
Negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multilateral free trade agreement comprising 10 countries including the US and Japan, will likely begin next year. US President Barack Obama said Sunday before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ...

CANADA ASKING TO JOIN TRANS-PACIFIC PACT: STEPHEN HARPER

Times of India - ‎1 hour ago‎
HONOLULU: Canada wants to join talks on a proposed US-led free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region that also may open its membership to Japan, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Sunday. "We are expressing formally our willingness to ...

JAPAN'S THIRD OPENING

Wall Street Journal - ‎2 hours ago‎
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's announcement Friday that Japan will join the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks is a huge potential boost to global free trade. If successful, the deal will encompass countries accounting for 35% of the world economy, ...

AN EXTRA RAFT FOR TROUBLED WATERS

TODAYonline - ‎2 hours ago‎
HONOLULU - With the global economy drifting into choppy waters, Asia-Pacific is closer to getting an extra "safety raft" - as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong put it - after leaders from nine economies, including the United States, ...

FREE TRADE BREAKTHROUGH, BUT CHINA IS STAYING ALOOF

Business Times (subscription) - ‎3 hours ago‎
SINGAPORE and eight other countries have agreed to phase out tariffs and bring down other barriers to trade as soon as possible. They have set an 'ambitious' July 2012 deadline to conclude negotiations on the wide-ranging Trans-Pacific ...

TPP AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY RAFT IN UNCERTAIN TIMES: PM LEE

Business Times (subscription) - ‎3 hours ago‎
AT a time of instability in the global economy with Europe facing a deep financial crisis, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will act as an 'additional safety raft' for the Asia-Pacific community, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. ...

CANADA WANTS IN TO NEW ASIA PACIFIC TRADE PACT BUT WON'T PRE-NEGOTIATE: MINISTER

CanadianBusiness.com - ‎5 hours ago‎
Prime Minister Stephen Harper takes part in a briefing during the 2011 APEC Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday, November 12, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick HONOLULU, ...

THE ASIAN OPENING KNOWN AS TPP

Forbes - ‎6 hours ago‎
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MARRY THE TPP TO THE WTO

Wall Street Journal - ‎6 hours ago‎
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OBAMA CALLS FOR FINALISATION OF TRADE DEAL BEFORE US ELECTION

New Zealand Herald - ‎7 hours ago‎
Bill English, who is representing New Zealand at the Apec summit so Prime Minister John Key can focus on the election campaign, met US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, before the leaders' dinner. ...

CALLS FOR TRADE DEAL TRUTH BEFORE POLLING DAY

Stuff.co.nz - ‎7 hours ago‎
The Government is facing calls to front up before the election on what is at stake in free trade negotiations stretching across the Asia-Pacific area. United States President Barack Obama said at the weekend that negotiators were hoping to wrap up ...

JAPAN'S FREE-TRADE MOVE CRITICIZED

Wall Street Journal - ‎8 hours ago‎
HONOLULU—Japan's prime minister hoped for praise at the weekend summit of Asian-Pacific leaders here for his bold pledge to join a US-led free-trade pact—but his government instead got into a tangle with the Obama administration over ...

OBAMA WILL USE WIN IN ELECTION PITCH

The Australian - ‎10 hours ago‎
SELF-interest is always a powerful motivator, so it should come as no surprise that the Obama administration is giving ardent US support to a free trade pact in the Pacific. For Barack Obama, embracing trade liberalisation is all about jobs: American...

JAPAN, U.S. AT ODDS WITH PM NODA'S FREE TRADE COMMENT

Reuters - ‎12 hours ago‎
HONOLULU Nov 13 (Reuters) - Japan has denied a White House statement that Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told US President Barack Obama he would put all goods and services on the negotiating table for trade liberalisation. ...

OBAMA PUSHES TRADE DEAL IN BID TO BOLSTER US FOOTHOLD IN ASIA

BusinessWeek - ‎13 hours ago‎
Nov. 13 (Bloomberg) -- The US and eight other Asia- Pacific nations outlined a framework for a free trade accord and agreed to accelerate negotiations with the aim of completing an agreement within the next year. ...

NEW ASIA-PACIFIC CLUB SHUNS CANADA

The Province - ‎14 hours ago‎
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, pictured at the APEC summit in Hawaii, recognizes that Canada's future economic success is largely tied to the Pacific Rim. The Harper government says it's interested in ...

BREAKTHROUGH IN MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

Channel News Asia - ‎16 hours ago‎
SINGAPORE: Asia-Pacific economies are one step closer to sealing a multilateral free trade agreement. Leaders from nine economies have agreed on the broad terms for a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) ...

US BACK FOR MORE: GREENS

Ninemsn - ‎19 hours ago‎
The Australian Greens say the United States is using a new trade deal to get what it missed out on in a bilateral free trade agreement. The party wants Prime Minister Julia Gillard to release the negotiating text for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP)...

TPP LEADERS AGREE TO BROAD PACT BY JULY 2012

Bernama - ‎21 hours ago‎
HONOLULU, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- The nine leaders of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) have agreed to the completion of a broad agreement of the text for a free trade deal by July 2012. US President Barack Obama, who made the announcement after hosting ...

BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE COMMENDS PROGRESS ON TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP AND URGES A ...

MarketWatch (press release) - ‎21 hours ago‎
WASHINGTON, Nov 12, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- In response to the announcement today by the Leaders of the nine Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries on the broad outlines of an ambitious TPP agreement, Business Roundtable (BRT) commended this real ...

CANADA WON'T PRE-NEGOTIATE TO GET INTO ASIA-PACIFIC TRADE GROUP, MINISTER SAYS

Globe and Mail - ‎21 hours ago‎
It's a trade deal being heralded as a model for the economic future, but Canada won't take part because of its economic past. Nine Pacific rim nations agreed Saturday to forge ahead with a new trade bloc that will fast-track trade between some of the ...

TPP LEADERS ADVANCE FREE TRADE TALKS

TVNZ - ‎22 hours ago‎
Leaders of the nine countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership have agreed on broad free trade outlines. The agreement is an important step towards a deal that will benefit New Zealand exporters, Bill English and Tim Groser say. ...

LEADERS EYE FINAL TRANS-PACIFIC DEAL IN 2012

Reuters Canada - ‎Nov 12, 2011‎
HONOLULU (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and eight other leaders said on Saturday they have made good progress on a groundbreaking pan-Pacific trade deal and expected to finish in 2012. ...

LEADERS EYE FINAL TRANS-PACIFIC DEAL IN 2012

Baltimore Sun - ‎Nov 12, 2011‎
HONOLULU (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and eight other leaders said on Saturday they have made good progress on a groundbreaking pan-Pacific trade deal and expected to finish in 2012. "Our nine nations have reached the broad outlines of an ...

LEADERS EYE FINAL TRANS-PACIFIC DEAL IN 2012

Reuters - ‎Nov 12, 2011‎
US President Barack Obama pauses next to Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda during the APEC Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii, November 12, 2011. By Laura MacInnis and Emily Kaiser HONOLULU (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and eight other leaders said ...

MEXICO AND CANADA SHOW INTEREST IN TRANS-PACIFIC TRADE PACT

Malaysia Star - ‎Nov 12, 2011‎
HONOLULU: The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) gained momentum when Mexico and Canada expressed their interest to join the pact. Their interest to join the new free trade deal was made known after Japan officially announced its decision yesterday of its ...


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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. To Build Up Military Base In Darwin To Counter Growing Chinese Influence

Asian Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. To Build Up Military Base In Darwin To Counter Growing Chinese Influence
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada, November 13, 2011: President Barack Obama will announce an accord for a new and permanent U.S. military presence in Australia when he visits next week, a step aimed at countering China's influence and reasserting U.S. interest in the region, said people
familiar with his plans.

The agreement will lead to an increase in U.S. naval operations off the coast of Australia and give American troops and ships "permanent and constant" access to Australian facilities, the people said. While no new American bases will be built under the plan, the arrangement will allow U.S. forces to place equipment in Australia and set up more joint exercises, they said.

The move could help the U.S. military, now concentrated in Japan and South Korea in Northeast Asia, to spread its influence west and south across the region, including the strategically and economically important South China Sea, which China considers as its sovereign territory.

It was unclear how much the new presence would cost the Pentagon, which is facing years and hundreds of billion dollars in spending cuts.

But the expanded military presence is designed as a demonstration of U.S. commitment to the region, part of an effort to refocus on Asia as the U.S. withdraws from Iraq and draws its forces down in Afghanistan, officials in both countries said.

"It will demonstrate U.S. resolve, not just for Australia, but in the region," Maj. Gen. Tim McOwan, the Australian defense attaché in Washington, said in an interview this week.

At a daily press briefing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Chinese officials "hope relevant countries' bilateral cooperation will be conducive to the Asia-Pacific region's security, peace and stability."

The strategy comes weeks after China sent its first its first aircraft carrier to sea, a defining moment in its effort to become a top-tier naval power that seeks to challenge U.S. military supremacy in Asia and protect Chinese economic interests that now span the globe.

Several Asian nations, fearful of the threat China poses, also are beefing up their arsenals, fearing that the U.S. security umbrella is being eroded by China's enhanced capabilities and possible U.S. defense cuts.

One base slated for the stepped-up American presence is in Darwin, on the country's north coast. Other locations are possible, including one near Perth, on the west coast, one person said.

"Strategically, we want to be able to reassure the rest of Asia that the American presence is still strong in the 21st century as China develops its force," said Ernie Bower, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.

Officials declined to detail how many new troops or sailors would be part of the U.S. effort, or how many ships would be stationed in the area, ahead of Mr. Obama's announcement next week. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, while traveling throughout the region last month, vowed an expansion in U.S. influence, but also declined to specify costs or force sizes.

An administration official said the stepped-up presence will be phased in over several years under the agreement. The deal isn't yet final and details could change.

On his trip, Mr. Obama will mark the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-Australian alliance with a speech to Parliament and a visit to a military base in Darwin, where he and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard will jointly address Australian troops.

Neither leader is expected to characterize the move as directly confronting the Chinese. But U.S. officials said one of the goals of Mr. Obama's Asia trip is to clarify free access to the South China Sea.

Mr. Panetta, after a meeting with the Australians in September, said that enhanced military cooperation would counter "threats and challenges" to come. "Security and prosperity of our two great nations depends on the security and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

The full range of U.S. naval ships is expected to rotate through the joint facilities, stopping for exercises as well as repairs and other shore work. Naval aircraft also will have access to a base in Darwin.

The increased U.S. presence will be a rotating force, one person said. In September, Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the enhance cooperation would be "more ships in, ships out; more planes in, planes out; more troops in, troops out."

Gen. McOwan, the defense attaché, said the increase in U.S. naval operations will send a message to the Chinese that the U.S. is committed to defending the security of regional sea and air trade routes. The stepped-up American presence will reassure Australia and well as other countries in the region that the U.S. is engaged at a time when Chinese intentions are uncertain, he said.

Still, Gen. McOwan added that the American commitments Mr. Obama plans to announce are "not going to frighten the Chinese."

"It's more symbolic than real," he said.

—Julian E. Barnes,
Brian Spegele



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